SF 


-NRLF 


1    T 


MANUAL, 


CONTAINING 


DIRECTIONS  FOR  SOWING,  TRANSPLANTING  AND 


RAISING 


OF    THE 


MULBERRY    TREE; 


TOGETHER   WITH 

PROPER 


THE  SAME  BY 

AS    ALSO, 

FOR    THE    < 


f    of 

TO    WHICH   IS   ADDED, 

CALCULATIONS  SHEWING  THE  PRODUCE 

AJVD    PROBABLE    EXPENSE 

OF  CULTIVATION  OF  FROM  ONE  TO  TEN  ACRES, 

AS   TBSTBD   BV   AOTWAI,   BBSWI.TS. 


BY   EDWARD   P.   ROBERTS, 

KDITOR    FARMER    AND    GARDENER. 
NOT   FOR    OURSELVES    BUT    FOR    OTHERS. 


•NTED    BY    SA»DS    *    NEILSON, 

jy.  E.  corner  of  Baltimore  and  Charles-streets. 

1885. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  compilation  of  this  Manual,  the  au- 
thor has  spared  no  time  which  he  could  snatch 
from  his  daily  avocations,  in  reading  various 
authors  and  essays  on  the  interesting  subject 
of  the  culture  of  silk,  and  he  takes  occasion 
here  to  say,  that,  for  the  facts,  directions,  and 
instructions,  which  may  be  found  in  it,  he 
is  indebted  to  articles  in  the  Encyclopedia 
Jlmericana;  Lardner^s  Cyclopaedia;  the  Ed- 
inburgh Encyclopedia;  Kenrictfs  Orchard- 
ist,  the  observations  on  the  silk  worm  by 
William  B.  Buchanan,  Esq.,  published  in 
1828,  the  treatise  on  the  culture  of  silk,  pub- 
lished by  Gideon  B.  Smith,  Esq.,  in  1830; 
the  essays  on  American  silk,  published  in  1830, 
by  John  D^Homergue^and  Peter  S.  Dupon- 
ceau,  Esqs. ;  Cobb's  Silk  Manual,  published 
in  1831  ;  Nicholson's  Farmer's  Assistant ;  «# 
brief  treatise  of  the  culture  of  Silk,  published 
in  Boston,  in  1 831  ;  The  Trade  and  Naviga- 
tion of  Great  Britain,  considered,  by  Joshua 
Gee,  published  in  1760;  the  letter  from  James 
Mease,  transmitting  a  treatise  on  the  rearing 
of  silk  worms,  by  Mr.  De  Hazzi,  of  Munich; 
and  the  manual  of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury 
on  the  same  subject ;  both  of  which  last  works 
were  printed  by  Congress,  in  1828;  the  vari- 
ous articles  respectively  in  those  excellent 
periodical  journals,  Fessendeti^s  Silk  Manual 
and  Practical  Farmer  ;  The  Silk  Cullurist ; 
"  The  Silk  Worm ;"  essays  in  the  Farmer's 
Register,  and  various  other  periodicals. — 
From  all  of  these  works,  he  has  derived  the 
most  valuable  information;  but  from  the  two 
compilations  printed  by  Congress,  and  the 
treatise  by  Gideon  B.  Smith,  Esq.,  he  has  re- 
ceived the  most  light  with  respect  to  the  cul- 
ture of  the  Mulberry,  and  he  feels  that  he 
should  not  obey  the  dictates  of  his  own  feel- 


ings did  he  not  particularly  acknowledge  the 
historical  facts  he  derived  from  the  excellent 
and  scarce  work  by  Joshua  Gee,  Esq.,  as 
connected  with  the  early  silk  culture  in  A- 
merica.  To  the  treatise  communicated  to 
Congress  by  Dr.  Mease,  and  the  letter  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  treasury  based  thereon,  he 
owes  not  only  the  arrangement,  but  in  most 
instances  the  language  also,  in  which  the 
instructive  part  of  his  work  is  dressed ;  nor 
should  he  pass  over  noticing  the  immense  ser- 
vice he  has  derived  from  personal  interviews 
with  his  intelligent  fellow  townsman,  Gideon 
B.  Smith,  Esq.,  and  he  feels  it  due  to  candor 
to  observe,  that  wherever  he  has- had  to  recon- 
cile the  clashing  of  opinions,  he  has  turned  to 
his  sensible  and  judicious  little  work,  as  a 
common  mediator,  and  never  without  receiv- 
ing the  most  able  assistance.  The  work  of. 
Count  Dandolo  which  forms  the  superstruc- 
ture of  the  two  congressional  documents,  pre- 
viously noticed,  is  so  full  upon  every  head 
connected  with  the  subject,  that  after  reading 
every  thing  within  his  command,  the  editor's 
only  difficulty  seemed  to  be  to  separate  what 
might  be  termed  the  purely  scientific  and  phi- 
losophical parts,  from  those  of  a  more  practical 
character,  with  a  view  of  presenting  to  the 
agricultural  community,  a  Manual,  wherein  all 
might  derive  the  necessary  information  to  car- 
ry on  the  silk  culture  in  its  every  branch  and 
department,  from  the  sowing  of  the  Mulberry 
seed  to  the  reeling  of  the  silk.  How  far  he 
has  succeeded  he  will  not  pretend  to  say,  but 
shall  leave  that  to  others  to  determine — being 
content,  himself,  in  the  declaration — that  he 
labored  with  a  singleness  of  intention,  to  pro- 
mote what  he  considers  a  great  and  growing 
interest  of  his  country. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


OP    THE 


OP 


SILK 


REPRESENTATION 

OF    THE 

DIFFERENT   AGES   OF   THE   SILK   WORM. 


You're  spinning  for  my  lady,  worm, 

Silk  garments  for  the  fair ; 

You're  spinning  rainbows  for  a  form 

More  beautiful  than  air; 

When  air  is  bright  with  sunbeams, 

And  morning  mists  arise 

From  woody  vales  and  mountain  streams, 

To  blue  autumnal  skies. 

MONTGOMERY, 

NON  SJBI   SED  AMIS. 


EXPLANATION    OF    THE    PLATE. 


1.  The  egg,  or  the  development  and  birth  of  the  caterpillar. 

2.  The  silk  worms  during  the  first  age,  till  their  first  moulting. 

3.  Rearing  of  the  worms  in  the  second  age. 

4.  The  worms  in  their  third  age. 

5.  The  rearing  of  the  silk  worm  in  the  fourth  age. 

6.  Of  the  rearing  of  the  silk  worms  during  the  fifth  age,  until  the  completion  of  the  cocoon. 

7.  A  species  of  silk  worm,  of  a  dark  grey  colour,  with  singular  marks. 

8.  The  cocoons. 

9.  Two  open  cocoons,  or  cocoons    with  their  grubs.     The  upper  one  contains  only  the  shell  of  a 

developed  chrysalis;  but  in  the  lower  is  seen  the  immature  chrysalis,  with  the  skin  of  the  late 
moth. 

10.  A  cocoon  from  which  the  butterfly  is  near  emerging. 

11.  A  cocoon  from  which  the  butterfly  has  already  escaped. 

12.  Two  butterflies  in  the  act  of  coupling. 

13.  The  female  moths  laying  eggs. 

14.  Raw  silk  of  a  yellow  or  white  colour. 

15.  Represents  the  excremental  substance  of  the  silk  worm,  in  its  first  and  last  age. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH, 


OF    THE 


CULTURE  AND  MANUFACTURE  OF  SILK. 


IN  the  third  number  of  the  present  volume 
of  the  Farmer  and  Gardener,  the  editor  an- 
nounced his  intention  of  compiling  a  Silk 
Manual.  Since  that  time  he  has  devoted 
much  of  his  leisure  moments  in  reading  such  of 
the  various  authors  who  have  written  upon  the 
subject,  which  were  accessible  to  him,  and 
gleaning  from  them  such  things  as  appeared  to 
him  to  be  necessary  to  be. known  by  persons 
desirious  of  entering  into  the  silk  culture ; 
and  in  the  course  of  his  readings,  so  many 
circumstances  of  deep  interest  were  developed 
to  him,  that  he  thought  it  was  due  to  the  sub- 
ject that  the  Manual  should  be  preceded  by 
a  brief  historical  sketch  of  the  silk  worm,  the 
origin  of  the  silk  manufacture,  its  introduc- 
tion into  Europe,  and  of  its  more  recent  in- 
troduction into  America.  But  as  his  limits  are 
circumscribed  what  he  may  say  on  the  occa- 
sion, must  be  considered  more  in  the  light  of 
an  abstract,  than  of  a  historical  view. 

The  deep  and  absorbing  interest,  which  per- 
vades every  section  of  our  country,  at  the  pre- 
sent moment,  and  the  spirit  of  inquiry,  which 
is  every  where  abroad,  upon  the  subject  of  the 
Mulberry  and  silk  culture,  seemed  to  require 
that  the  public  curiosity  should  be  gratified, 
and  its  wants  met  in  a  way  to  direct  that  in- 
quiry into  profitable  results.  Than  America, 
stretching  as  it  does  from  the  Atlantic,  across 
an  almost  boundless  territory,  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  there  is,  perhaps,  no  country  in  the 
world  more  happily  adapted,  by  the  advan- 
tages of  climate  and  soil,  to  the  culture  of  the 
Mulberry,  which  is  "  native  born"  with  us, 
the  nurturing  and  feeding  of  the  worm,  or  for 
the  making  and  manufacturing  of  the  silk.  With 
those  natural  advantages,  possessed  by  us  in 
so  pre-eminent  a  degree,  when  the  enterprise 
and  genius  of  our  people  are  considered,  it  be- 
comes a  matter  of  surprise  that  a  business  of- 


fering  so  many  inducements  of  pleasure  and 
profit,  should  have  remained  so  long  unim- 
proved, and  especially  too,  when  so  much 
pains  were  taken  by  the  government  of  the 
mother  country,  to  direct  the  attention  of  the 
colonists  to  it  from  the  period  of  its  earliest 
settlement,  to  just  before  the  war  of  the  revo- 
lution. But  that  surprise  must  cease  to  oper- 
ate, intensely,  when  the  desire  inherent  in  our 
nature,  of  prefering  present  to  prospective 
gains  is  considered,  and  also,  how  natuial  it 
was  for  our  forefathers  to  prefer  the  cul- 
tivation of  tobacco,  a  production  which  afford- 
ed them  an  annual  return,  to  that  of  the  Mul- 
berry and  silk,  whose  avails  to  any  considera- 
ble extent,  in  the  then  state  and  knowledge  of 
the  business,  could  not  be  looked  for,  for  seve- 
ral years.  Thus  situated,  and  desirous  of  rea- 
lizing, at  the  end  of  each  revolving  year,  the 
fruits  of  their  labor,  they  adhered  to  the  culti- 
vation of  the  "  bitter  weed,"  and  their  children 
followed  in  their  footsteps,  until  it  became  al- 
most as  cherished  in  their  affections  as  house- 
hold gods,  and  formed  the  chief  staple  of  seve- 
ral of  the  colonies.  But  it  has  thus  happened 
that  adherence  to  its  culture  has  so  exhausted 
the  soil  of  its  fertility,  that  many  of  its  owners 
have  been  driven  to  the  necessity  of  departing 
from  the  haunts  of  their  childhood;,  or  of  en- 
tering into  other  systems  of  husbandry.  In 
this  state  of  things,  the  editor  desires  to  be  an 
humble  co-adjutorin  directing  public  attention 
once  more  to  the  silk  culture,  in  the  hope  that 
he  may,  in  part,  be  instrumental  in  placing  the 
means  within  the  acquisition  of  all,  of  improv- 
ing the  soil  on  which  they  dwell,  and  thus  re- 
lieve them  from  the  painful  alternative  of  go- 
ing in  search  of  strange  lands.  Influenced  by 
such  considerations,  he  was  induced  to  under- 
take the  present  task,  and  with  *  this  hasty 
outline  of  his  object  and  intentions,  he  will 


10 


proceed  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  which 
have  thus  devolved  upon  him.  In  giving  the 
history  of  the  silk  culture,  it  is  not  his  purpose 
to  enter  upon  the  natural  history  of  the  worm 
itself:  however  interesting  that  might  be  to 
naturalists  and  men  of  science,  the  honest  yeo- 
manry of  the  country  entertain  no  great  curiosi- 
ty in  the  premises.  rn~  iU~  ~  :i  :~  ~  — " — * 
perfect  indifference 


To  them  it  is  a  matter  of 
how   many  antennae  and 


pectinated  fillets  the  worm  may  possess,  suffi- 
cient it  is  for  all  purposes  of  profit,  that  it.  is 
known  to  fabricate  a  beautiful  thread  of  finely 
attenuated  texture.  He  will,  however,  do 
what  is  infinitely  better — endeavor  to  teach 
them,  in  a  plain  and  unostentatious  way,  all 
things  necessary  to  be  known  to  enable  them 
to  lay  hold  of  the  business  with  a  certain 
prospect  of  large  profits.  With  these  pre- 
fatory remarks,  he  will  venture  on  that  part 
of  his  plan  connected  with  the  oiigin,  rise,  and 
progress,  of  the  silk  business. 

The  silk  worm,  or  catterpillar,  is  called 
lombyx  from  the  Greek  word  signifying  sound. 
There  were  two  kinds  amongst  the  Greeks, 
the  one  a  hairy  catlerpillar,  the  other  the  silk 
worm  proper,  as  known  at  the  present  day. 
The  real  silk  web  was  first  known,  as  far  as 
history  gives  an  account,  in  ancient  Serica,  a 
part  of  the  Chinese  Empire,  beyond  the  35th 
degree.  Forests  of  Mulberry  trees  there  grew 
and  the  worms  colonising  themselves  among 
them  for  centuries,  fed  upon  their  rich  foliage 


of  his  subjects.  The  Empress,  as  became  her, 
together  with  the  women  of  her  household, 
gathered  the  silk  worms  from  the  trees,  pla- 
ced them  in  the  imperial  apartments,  caused 
them  to  be  supplied  abundantly  with  leaves 
from  the  Mulberry  forests,  and  kept  clean. 
The  result  of  this  experiment  was,  that  it  was 
soon  found  the  c  jcoons  raised  within  the  impe- 
rial apartments,  were  infinitely  superior  in 
quality,  and  more  numerous  and  richer  in  silk 
than  those  raised  in  the  open  air,  where  they 
were  exposed  to  the  injurious  effects  of  the 
changes  of  the  temperature  of  the  air,  and 
where  they  were,  also,  exposed  to  the  depre- 
dations of  their  natural  enemies,  serpents,  ants 
and  spiders. 

Similar  exertions  for  the  domestic  culture 
as  we  are  told,  were  made  by  the  succeeding 
Empresses,  so  that  it  became  the  principal 
occupation  of  the  Empresses,  and  the  apart- 
ments of  the  imperial  palace  were  given  up  to 
it.  From  the  highest  rank  of  females,  it  came 
at  last  to  be  exercised  by  the  whole  fair  sex, 
and  ultimately  gained  such  favor,  that  it  turn- 
ed to  be  the  principal  source  of  the  wealth  of 
China,  and  the  fair  sovereigns  of  the  Empire, 
did  not  content  themselves  with  the  rearing  of 
the  worms,  but  attended  also,  to  the  card- 
ing and  weaving  of  their  finely  spun  webs. 
The  original  promotress  of  the  art  in  China, 
the  Empress  Si-Leng-Chi,  taught  her  women 


undisturbed  by  man,  who,  if  he  had  so  design- 
ed it,  might  have  gathered  the  precious  thread 
and  provided  himself  with  clothing,  without 
much  labor.  The  worms  were  permitted, 
however,  to  remain  long  untouched  and  the 
beautiful  article  of  their  fabrication  continued 
for  centuries  alike  unprofitable  and  neglect- 
ed. 

In  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Houng-Ti,  a 
new  era  commenced  in  the  culture  of  Silk. 
The  worms  were  then,  for  the  first  time,  shel- 
tered and  carefully  attended  to.  The  history 
of  China,  as  our  author  says,  mentions,  that 
700  years  before  Abraham,  and  2,700  years 
before  the  Christian  era,  Houng-Ti,  "the  Em- 
peror of  the  earth,"  who  reigned  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years,  taught  the  Chinese  to 
construct  houses,  carts,  ships,  mills  and  other 
useful  things  of  a  similar  kind,  and  persuaded, 
moreover,  his  first  and  legitimate  consort,  Si- 
Leng-Chi,  to  attend  to  the  silk  worms,  and  to 
try  several  experiments,  in  order  to  increase 
their  utility ;  wishing  as  he  said,  and  as  a  good 
monarch  Raturally  would,  that  his  wife,  the 
Empress,  might  also  contribute  to  the  welfare 


not  only  to  convert  the  new  material  into 
clothing  stuffs,  but  to  embroider  them  with 
representations  of  flowers  and  animals. 

In  order  to  encourage  the  rearing  of  the 
worms,  and  the  weaving  and  manufacturing 
of  silk,  the  Emperor,  the  learned  classes,  the 
princes,  courtiers  and  Mandarins,  and  in  short, 
all  who  were  sufficiently  affluent  dressed  in 
satin  or  damask.  Subsequently,  silk  became 
an  article  of  exportation,  and  found  its  way 
into  all  the  other  countries  of  Asia,  and  ulti- 
mately to  Europe.  The  caravans  were  seen 
going  from  the  coasts  of  China  to  those  of 
Syria,  usually  occupying  as  much  as  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-three  days  on  the  journey. 
The  Phoenecians  finally  found  their  way  to  the 
East  of  Europe. 

The  Greeks,  it  is  affirmed  by  writers,  de- 
rived their  first  knowledge  of  silk  from  the 
military  expeditions  of  Alexander  into  Persia 
and  India,  and  Jlrislotle  called  the  attention  of 
his  country  to  it  as  early  as  three  hundred  and 
fifty  years  before  Christ. 

When  this  fabric  was  first  introduced  among 
the  Romans,  owing  to  itsv-high  price,  the 
chains  only  were  of  silk,  and  the  filling  either 


11 


of  linen  or  cotton,  and  may  therefore  be  call- 
ed half  silk  stuffs;  but  a  general  outcry  soon 
arose,  even  against  the  half  silk  stuffs,  under 
the  pretence  that  they  were  too  expensive 
and  too  womanish.  Even  as  late  as  the  reign 
of  the  Emperor  Tiberius,  seventeen  years  af- 
ter Christ,  it  was  ordered  '•'•that  no  silk  dress 
should  henceforth  disgrace  a  Roman  city"  In 
the  reign  of  Marcus  Aurelius,  in  the  year  173, 
such  attire  was  only  worn  by  the  ladies  of  the 
highest  rank.  The  Syrian  voluptuary,  He- 
liogabulus,  it  is  stated,  was  the  first  who  wore 
a  dress  wholly  composed  of  silk,  in  the  year 
218;  but  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  270,  Jlure- 
lianus  denied  to  his  wife,  Severa,  such  a  dress, 
colored  with  purple.  "Let  us  not,"  said  he, 
"exchange  gold  for  spider's  web, — and  indeed, 
at  that  epoch,  silk  was  of  the  same  value  with 
gold,  being  exchanged  weight  for  weight. 

The  Persians  enjoyed  for    centuries    the 
monopoly  of  the  trade  in  silk ;  but  after  their 
subjugation  by     Alexander,    three    hundred 
years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  Greece  and 
Rome  became  participants  of  the  trafic ;  and 
such  was  the  anxiety  of  the  Romans  to  trade 
with  a  people  who  were  competent  to  the 
production  cf  so  beautiful  an  article,  that  the 
Emperor  ^Marcus  Jlntonius  sent  ambassadors 
to  China  to  negotiate  a  more  direct  commer- 
cial intercourse,  and  a  second  embassay  was 
despatched  with  the  same  view  in  the  year 
272,  the  results  of  which  were  more  favora- 
ble.    The  price  of  silk  remained,  however, 
so  high,  and  it  rose  so  much  in  the  estimation 
of  the  Romans,  that  Justinian  made  anothei 
attempt  soon  after  he  ascended  the  throne  to 
obtain  a  more  certain  as  well  as  an  increased 
supply.      Julian  also,  subsequently  made  £ 
similar  effort  but  failed.     The  preachers  o 
the  doctrines  of  JVes/or,  who  were  exiled  by 
the  government  of  Byzantium,  fled  to  India 
Their  patriarch,  who  resided  in  Persia,  sen 
missions,  and  established  convents  and  bishop 
ricks  in  every  direction.     And  it  is  related  o 
two  of  his  monks,  who  had  been  employed  as 
missionaries  in  some  of  the  Christian  churchei 
which  were  instituted  indifferent  parts  of  In 
dia,  having  penetrated  into  the  country  of  th< 
Seres,  had  observed   the  labors  of  the  silk 
worms,  and  become  acquainted  with  the  art  o 
working  their  production  into  a  variety  o 
elegant  fabrics.     Aware  of  the  solicitude  o 
the  Europeans  on  this  subject,  they  repairet 
to  Constantinople,  and  imparted  to  the  Empe 
ror  Justinian  the  secret  which  had  hithert( 
been  so  well  preserved  by  the  Seres,  that  sil! 
was  produced  by   a  species  of  worms,  th 


eggs  of  which  might  be   transported   with 
afety,  and  propagated  in  the  dominions.     By 
ic  promise  of  a  great  reward,  says  the  ac- 
ount,  they  were  induced  to  return  and  brought 
way  a  quantity  of  the  silk  worm's  eggs  in 
le  hollow  of  a  cane,  and  conveyed  them  safely 
o  Constantinople  about  the  year  555.    These 
vere  hatched  in  the  proper  season  by  the 
varmth  of  a  manure  heap,  the  worms   fed 
vith  the  leaves  of  the  Mulberry  tree,  and 
lieir  race  propagated  under  the  direction  of 
be  monks.   The  insects  thus  happily  produced 
rom  this  caneful  of  eggs,  were,  it  is  affirmed, 
he  progenitors  of  all  the  silk  worms  of  Eu- 
ope  and  the  western  part  of  Asia.  Vastnum- 
ers  of  these  insects   were  soon  thereafter 
eared  in  different  parts  of  Greece,  and  par- 
icularly  in  the  Peloponnesus.      The  monks 
laving  also  made  themselves  masters  of  the 
art  of  manufacturing  silk,  the  business  was 
conducted  under  the  auspicies  of  the  Emperor, 
and  for  his  exclusive  benefit;   but  the  imperial 
monopoly  could  not  long  continue,  and  man- 
kind, gradually,  became  possessed  of  the  pre- 
vious insects,  after  the  death  of  Justinian,  in 
he  year  565.     The  people  of  the  Peninsula, 
and  of  the  cities  of  Athens,  and  Thebes,  en- 
oyed  the  profit  of  the  culture  and  manufac- 
ure  of  silk  for  upwards  of  400  years,  and  the 
Venetians   during  the  continuance  of    their 
commercial  glory,  distributed  the  products  of 
iheir  industry  over  the  western  parts  of  Eu- 
rope.    Things  remained  thus  until  Roger,  the 
Norman,  King  of  Sicily,  after  his  return  from 
the  second  crusade,  in  the  year  1146,  invaded 
Greece  and  captured  a  great  number  of  silk 
weavers,  who  were  carried  off  and  settled  in 
Palermo,  the  capital  city  of  the  conqueror. 

By  order  of  the  King,  the  Grecian  prison- 
ers taught  his  Sicilian  subjects  to  raise  and 
feed  silk  worms,  and  to  weave  the  various  va- 
rieties of  the  silk  stuffs,  and  so  well  did  they 
profit  by  their  instructions,  that  in  twenty 
years,  the  silk  manufactures  of  Sicily  elicited 
the  warmest  commendations  from  most  of  the 
historians  of  the  age. 

The  Saracens  had  before  this  time  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  silk.  Lisbon  and  Al- 
meira  and  the  island  of  Majorca,  were  famous 
for  their  silk  fabrics.  Louis  XI  of  France  and 
his  son  Charles  VIII  made  attempts  to  intro- 
duce the  manufacture,  but  the  honor  of  success 
belongs  to  Henry  IV. 

As  early  as  the  year  1455,  mention  is  made 
of  a  company  of  silk  women  in  England,  and 
the  business  had  become  so  important  in  1504, 
as  to  receive  a  prohibitory  statute  in  its  favor. 


In  1561,  queen  Elizabeth,  or  as  she  was  more 
familiarly  termed,  the  good  queen  Bess,  re- 
ceived a  present  of  a  pair  of  black  silk  stock- 
ings, with  which  it  is  stated  she  was  so  well 
pleased  that  she  never  afterwards  wore  any 
of  another  material. 

In  1608,  James  I,  who  had  several  times 
recommended  the  manufacture  from  the  throne, 
addressed  a  long  letter  upon  the  subject,  writ- 
ten with  his  own  hand,  to  the  Lord  Lieuten- 
ants of  every  county  in  the  kingdom,  to  whom 
Mulberry  seeds  and  plants  were  sent  for  dis- 
tribution, together  with  a  book  of  instructions  ; 
but  notwithstanding  his  earnest  wishes  on  the 
subject,  it  was  not  until  the  latter  part  of  his 
reign  that  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 
business  permanently  established.  Since  then 
to  the  present,  the  manufacture  of  silk  has 
been  carried  on  extensively  in  England ;  but 
owing  to  the  humidity  of  the  climate,  she  nev- 
er has  been,  and  never  can  become,  extensive- 
ly or  profitably  engaged  in  the  culture  of  the 
Mulberry  and  the  management  of  the  worms, 
and  of  necessity  is  compelled  to  seek  the  raw 
material  in  France  and  other  silk  raising 
countries.  The  ultimate  success  of  the  silk 
manufacture  in  England,  arose  chiefly  from 
an  act  of  religious  persecution  in  France  in 
1685,  when  by  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of 
Nantes,  all  the  Protestants  were  driven  from 
France,  and  settled  in  England,  where  they 
commenced  the  silk  business.  The  introduc- 
tion oF'the  silk  throwing  mill  by  Sir  Thomas 
Lombe,  of  Derby,  in  the  year  1719,  greatly 
promoted  the  manufacture  by  the  increased 
rapidity  imparted  to  the  process  of  preparing 
the  raw  material. 

Having  thus  incidentally  named  Sir  Thom- 
as Lomhe,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  men- 
tion a  fact  connected  with  the  family,  which 
will  go  far  to  shew  the  difficulties  with  which 
the  introduction  of  this  business  was  first  in- 
troduced into  England,  and  how  jealous  were 
the  Italians  of  permitting  all  knowledge  con- 
nected with  the  manufacture  of  silk  from  es- 
caping from  their  country.  There  were  three 
brothers,  Thomas,  Henry,  and  John  Lombe, 
the  first  who  was  sheriff  of  London  on  the  oc- 
casioa  of  the  coronation  of  George  the  II.,  in 
1727,  was  knighted.  About  this  time,  the  Ital- 
ians had  introduced  great  improvement  in  the 
art  of  throwing  silk,  and  rendered  it  impossible 
for  the  Lombes,  who  were  engaged  in  the  silk 
throwing  business  at  London,  to  bring  their 
goods  into  the  market  upon  any  thing  like  terms 
of  equality  with  the  Italian.  The  younger 
brother  was  a  lad  at  the  time,  and  by  the  laws> 


of  the  Italians  it  was  made  death  for  any  one 
to  discover  any  thing  connected  with  the  silk 
manufacture:  with  this  addition,  the  forfeiture  of 
their  goods,  and  their  person  and  name  to  be 
painted  on  the  outside  of  the'  prison  walls, 
hanging  to  the  gallows  by  one  foot,  with  an 
inscription  to  remain  as  a  perpetual  mark  of  in- 
famy. These  severe  and  degrading  penalties 
would,  one  would  think,  have  been  a  barrier 
to  the  curiosity  of  almost  any  one;  but  it 
had  no  dreads  for  young  Lombe.  He  proceed- 
ed to  Italy,  and  after  various  ineffectual  at- 
tempts to  procure  drawings  and  an  insight  in- 
to the  business,  he  at  last  ingratiated  himself 
into  the  good  opinion  of  a  priest,  who  confess- 
ed the  family  to  whom  the  silk  factory  belong- 
ed ;  through  his  interest  he  obtained  employ- 
ment in  the  mill  as  a  fillatoe-boy  to  superin- 
tend a  spinning  engine.  Whilst  others  slept 
he  was  awake  and  diligently  employed  in  his 
arduous  and  dangerous  undertaking.  He  had 
possessed  himself  of  a  dark  lantern,  tinder 
box,  wax-candles  and  a  case  of  mathematical 
instruments.  In  the  day  time,  these  were  se- 
creted in  the  hole  under  the  stairs  where  he 
used  to  sleep,  and  no  person  ever  indicated 
the  least  curiosity  to  ascertain  the  extent  of 
the  possessions  of  young  Lombe,  who  had  so 
far  disguised  himself  as  to  present  the  appear- 
ance of  a  most  wretched  being.  By  this 
means  he  obtained  drawings  of  every  part  of 
the  machinery,  and  through  means  of  his 
friend  the  priest,  he  conveyed  them  to  Eng- 
land in  piece  meal,  in  bales  of  silk.  These 
originals  are  still  preserved  in  the  Derby  mills. 
After  Lombe  had  completed  his  drawings  he 
waited  until  an  English  ship  was  on  the  point  of 
sailing  for  England,  when  he  left  the  works. and 
hastened  on  board.  His  absence  excited  sus- 
picion, and  an  Italian  brig  was  despatched  in 
pursuit ;  but  the  English  vessel,  being  the  bet- 
ter sailer  of  the  two,  escaped. 

There  are  other  mills  more  recently  erect- 
ed at  Derby  on  similar  principles,  which 
greatly  surpass  those  of  the  Messrs.  Lombe, 
in  grandeur  and  efficiency,  but  the  old  mill 
continues  to  be  regarded  as  the  chief  object 
of  interest,  being  the  first  established  of  the 
kind,  and  associated  with  so  romantic  an  in- 
cident in  the  life  of  one  of  its  first  proprie- 
tors. 

This  brings  us  to  that  part  of  the  history  of 
the  culture  which  relates  more  immediately 
to  our  own  country. 

The  culture  of  silk  in  America  first  com- 
menced in  the  state  of  Virginia,  the  attention 
of  the  settlers  being  called  to  it  by  the  British 


13 


government,  in  the  20th  year  of  the  reign  of 
James  I.  Having  unsuccessfully  attempted  to 
introduce  it  into  his  own  kingdom,  in  Europe, 
he  was  the  more  desirous  of  doing  so  in  his 
transatlantic  possessions,  in  order  that  his 
manufacturers  at  home  might  draw  their  sup- 
plies of  the  raw  material  from  his  colonies  in 
America.  With  the  view  of  furthering  his 
object,  which  had  now  become  quite  a  favo- 
rite with  him,  silk  worm  eggs,  Mulberry  trees, 
and  printed  directions  were  early  sent  to  Vir- 
ginia, to  encourage  the  silk  culture,  and  as  the 
king  had  "understood  that  the  soil  naturally 
yieldeth  stores  of  excellent.  Mulberries,"  he 
gave  special  instructions  to  the  Earl  of  South- 
ampton, to  urge  the  cultivation  of  silk  in  the 
colonies  in  preference  to  tobacco,  "  which 
brings  with  it  many  disorders  and  inconve- 
niences." In  accordance  to  which,  the  Earl 
wrote  a  letter  on  the  subject  to  the  governor, 
and  council  of  Virginia,  in  which  he  desired 
them  to  compel  the  colonists  to  plant  Mul- 
berry trees.  In  1 623,  the  colonial  assembly 
directed  that  they  should  be  planted;  and  in 
1656,  the  culture  of  silk  is  described  as  the 
most  profitable  commodity  for  the  country, 
and  a  penalty  of  three  pounds  of  tobacco  is 
imposed  upon  every  planter  who  should  fail 
to  plant  at  least  ten  Mulberry  trees  for  every 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  his  possession.  A 
premium  also  of  4000  pounds  of  tobacco  was 
at  the  same  time  given  to  a  person  as  an  in- 
ducement to  remain  in  the  country,  and  pro- 
secute the  trade  in  silk;  and  the  following 
year,  a  premium  was  offered  of  10,000  pounds 
of  tobacco  to  any  one  who  should  export 
£200  worth  of  the  raw  material  of  silk,  and 
5000  pounds  of  the  same  article  to  any  one 
who  should  produce  1000  pounds  of  wound 
silk  in  one  year.  The  act  coercing  the  plant- 
ing of  a  given  number  of  trees  was  repealed  in 
1656,  and  renewed  two  years  thereafter;  but 
the  system  of  bounties  and  penalties  was  con- 
tinued until  1666,  when,  owing  to  the  success 
of  the  culture  they  were  deemed  unnecessary ; 
but  in  1 6 1 9  it  was  again  renew  ed  ;  and  subse- 
quently entirely  ceased. 

While  Sir  William  Berkeley  was  in  Eng- 
land, on  the  occasion  of  his  reappointment  as 
governor,  in  conversation  with  the  King,  his 
majesty  strongly  recommended  the  culture  of 
silk,  and  as  an  inducement  to  the  colonists  to 
attend  to  his  advice,  mentioned  "  that  he  had 
formerly  worn  some  of  the  silk  of  Virginia, 
which  he  found  not  inferior  to  that  raised  in 
other  countries." 

The  encouragement  given  by  the  colonial 


Legislature,  had  the  desired  effect,  a  spirit  of 
generous  enterprise  and  emulation  was  infus- 
ed into  the  minds  of  the  agriculturists  of  the  old 
dominion,  Mulberry  trees  were  generally 
planted  and  the  raising  of  silk  worms 
was  made  a  part  of  the  business  of  many  of 
the  farmers.  Indeed,  so  zealously  did  the 
larger  planters  and  farmers  enter  into  it,  that 
many  were  found  to  come  forward  and  claim 
the  premium  offered  by  the  Legislature;  and 
among  these  was  a  Major  Walker,  a  member 
of  that  body,  who  produced  satisfactory  testi- 
mony of  having  70,000  trees  growing  in  the 
year  1664.  The  eastern  part  of  the  state 
abounds  with  the  White  Mulberry  trees  at 
present,  thus  offering  the  inhabitants  the 
means  of  promptly  taking  up  the  silk  culture, 
as  a  part  of  their  system  of  husdandry. 

In  that  excellent  and  scarce  work,  entitled 
"  The  trade  and  navigation  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  by  Joshua  Gee,"  published  in 
1760,  there  are  numerous  evidences  of  the 
deep  and  pervading  interest  which  was  then, 
and  had  been  long  felt  by  the  government  of 
England,  to  introduce  the  culture  of  silk  into 
their  colonies.  One  of  these  relates  to  the  in- 
terest taken  by  James  I.,  and  as  it  is  a  little 
different,  rather  in  form,  however,  than  sub- 
stance, to  the  version  already  given,  we  will 
transcribe  it. 

"King  James  the  first  concerned  himself 
much  in  trade ;  yet  in  imitation  of  Henry  IV. 
of  France,  (who  was  wonderful  assidious  in 
promoting  all  sorts  of  manufactures,  and 
among  the  rest,  that  of  planting  Mulberry 
trees,  and  raising  silk,)  made  some  essays  to- 
wards such  a  design  here,  and  he  and  his 
courtiers  seemed  to  be  very  fond  of  the  under- 
taking, and  letters  were  writ  to  Virginia  to 
promote  that  manufacture.  Some  small  pro- 
gress was  made  there  and  letters  passed  be- 
tween the  planters  and  gentlemen  here;  but 
as  soon  as  they  thought  they  had  engaged  the 
planters  to  begin  upon  it,  instead  of  promoting 
it  heartily,  and  sending  some  able  and  skilful 
persons  to  direct  the  undertaking,  they  threw 
all  upon  the  planters,  and  that  noble  design 
came  to  nothing,  whereas  that  of  France  suc- 
ceeded to  the  immense  profit  of  that  king- 
dom." p  3.  6th  ed. 

If  any  proof  were  wanting  of  the  adaptation 
of  our  country,  in  climate  and  soil  for  the  silk 
culture,  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  pages  of  this 
work,  the  edition  of  which  now  before  us  is 
75  years  old.  In  page  20,  in  a  chapter  on 
"  Trade  between  England  and  Carolina,"  Mr. 
Gee  remarks: — 


14 


u  Carolina  lies  in  as  happy  a  climate  as  any 
in  the  world,  from  32  to  36  degrees  of  north- 
ern latitude,  the  soil  is  generally  fertile ;  the 
rice  it  produces  is  said  to  be  the  best  in  the 
world ;  and  no  country  affords  better  silk  than 
has  been  brought  from  thence." 

Again,  in  p.  22,  he  remarks : 

"  As  Carolina  is  likely  to  become  the  pro- 
perty of  the  crown,  the  rich  grounds  that  lie 
under  the  Apulachean  hills,  and  through  Vir- 
ginia, etc.  are  inviting  places  for  raising  silk." 

And  in  p.  104,  &c.  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing strong  proof  of  the  great  interest  felt  by 
the  government  of  Great  Britain,  not  only  for 
the  culture  of  silk  in  this  country  •,  but  of  the 
then  existing  favorable  opinion  as  to  the  prac- 
ticability of  it.  Mr.  Gee  says: 

"  If  care  was  taken  to  cultivate  and  improve 
the  raising  of  silk  in  our  plantations,  Carolina, 
Virginia,  ^Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania. 
would  produce  the  best  of  silk,  and  as  fit  for 
organzine  as  any  in  the  world;  for  these 
countries  produce  vast  numbers  of  white  and 
other  Mulberry  trees,  which  grow  wild  and 
spring  up  almost  every  where  in  great  abun- 
dance, which  looks  as  if  nature  had  called  us 
thither  to  propagate  that  manufacture ;  and  if 
put  on  foot,  would  in  time  be  of  as  great  ad- 
vantage to  this  nation  as  any  employment  in 
the  plantations ;  for  as  I  have  already  observ- 
ed, the  manufacture  of  silk  is  a  most  profitable 
undertaking,  where  the  land  and  air  is  proper 
for  raising  it." 

"  The  vast  riches  of  China,  by  this  manu 
facture  is  sufficient  to  demonstrate  the  great 
advantages  thereof;  and  the  extraordinary 
treasure  the  Duke  of  Savoy  draws  into  his 
country  by  silk,  which  is  made  in  that  little 
principality  of  Piedmont,  as  I  have  already 
observed,  is  also  another  instance ;  we  may 
judge,  if  he  draws  above  two  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  a  year  from  England,  what  his 
profits  are  which  he  draws  from  Holland,  and 
other  places  where  the  manufacture  is  carried 

on  to  a  very  great  degree." 

*         **"#         *         *         #         # 

"Very  great  things  may  be  expected  by 
our  encouraging  and  promoting  the  manufac- 
ture of  silk  in  our  colonies.  *  *  *  *  No 
part  of  the  world  better  [suited  to  the  silk 
worm]  than  is  our  colonies ;  no  silk  cleaner 
more  glossy,  of  a  better  body,  nor  fitter  to  an- 
swer the  use  of  the  fine  thrown  silk  we  have 
from  Italy,  than  the  small  quantity  of  silk  tha 
has  been  imported  from  thence."  [The  Ameri- 
can colonies.]  *******> 

"  We  are  told  by  a  gentleman  of  good  in- 


telligence, the  whole  charge  of  making  a 
a  pound  of  silk  in  China,  does  not  stand  in 
above  five  shillings,  and  almost  any  person, 
man,  woman,  or  child,  may  work  at  it,  and 
a  man  or  woman,  with  a  child  to  assist  in  di- 
recting the  thread  of  the  silk,  may  with  a  pro- 
per machine  reel  from  tlie  cocoon  or  silk  bag, 
one  pound  in  a  day." 

*  *  *  *  "  Now  I  should  think  the  la- 
bor of  slaves  employed  in  this  work,  would 
produce  above  twice  as  much  as  those  that  are 
employed  in  planting  either  sugar  or  tobac- 
co." 

These  are  the  opinions  of  an  eminent  Eng- 
ish  political  economist,  who  wrote  three  quar- 
;ers  of  a  century  ago,  and  they  go  to  establish 
two  points  very  clearly,  that  the  silk  culture 
was  esteemed,  even  at  that  early  day,  very 
lighly  by  the  most  judicious  thinking  men, 
and  that  the  peculiar  advantages  possessed  by 
our  country  for  the  culture,  was  then  well  un- 
derstood, and  duly  appreciated  by  the  first  in- 
telligences of  the  age. 

As  early  as  1732,  upon  the  settlememt  of 
Georgia,  the  culture  of  silk  was  also  contem- 
plated as  a  principal  object  of  attention,  and 
lands  were  granted  to  settlers  upon  the  ex- 
press condition,  that  they  planted  one  hundred 
White  Mulberry  trees  on  every  ten  acres 
when  cleared.  Trees,  seed,  and  the  eggs  of 
the  silk  worms,  were  sent  over  by  the  coloni- 
al trustees,  and  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  and  a 
native  of  Piedmont,  were  engaged  to  instruct 
the  people  in  the  art  of  rearing  the  worms  and 
winding  the  silk.  And  in  order  to  preserve 
the  spirit  of  the  silk  culture,  and  to  keep  the 
views  of  government  present  before  the  people, 
the  public  seal  had  on  one  side  of  it  a  repre- 
sentation of  silk  worms  in  their  various  stages, 
with  this  appropriate  motto,  "non  sibi  sed 

aims'" NOT  FOR  OURSELVES  BUT  FOR  OTH- 
ERS. By  the  manuscript  proceedings  of  those 
colonial  trustees,  it  appears  that  the  first  silk 
received  from  Georgia,  was  in  the  year  1735, 
when  81bs.  of  raw  silk  were  exported  from 
Savannah  to  England,  where  it  was  made  in- 
to a  piece  and  presented  to  the  Queen.  The 
exportations  from  Georgia  increased  until  the 
year  1756.  During  the  intervening  periods 
large  quantities  of  silk  were  at  times  ex  ported 
to  England.  The  exportation  of  raw  silk  in 
1759  amounted  to  upwards  of  10,000  pounds, 
and  brought  two  or  three  shillings  per  pound 
more  than  that  of  any  other  country.  It  is 
stated  that  the  last  parcel  brought  for  sale  to 
Savannah  was  in  the  year  1790. 

Attention  to  the  Mulberry  and  silk  culture 


15 


appears  to  have  been  paid  at  a  very  early  pe- 1  The  worms  were  fed  upon  the  native  Mulberry 

until  the  White  Mulberry  could  be  reared,  and 
it  is  remarked  that  they  thrived  well  and  yield- 
ed good  silk.  While  this  association  was  in 
existence,  many  garments  were  made  of  silk 
reared  by  its  members ;  but  the  war  of  the 
revolution  put  a  stop  chiefly  to  their  patriotic 


nod  in   South  Carolina  by  the  ladies,  with 
whom  it  was  a  fashionable  occupation,  and 
who  were  in  the  habit  of  sending  their  raw 
silk  to  England.     As  far  back  as  1755,  Mrs. 
Pinckney,  a  lady  distinguished  alike  by  her 
patriotism,  and   excellently  improved  mind, 
took  with  her  to  England  a  quantity  of  supe- 
rior silk,  sufficient  to  make  three  complete 
dresses.     One  of  these  was  presented  to  the 
Princess  dowager  of  Wales,  another  to  Lord 
Chesterfield,  and  the  third  being  retained  by 
her,  was  a  few  years  since  in  possession  of 
one  of  her  daughters  in  Charleston.     Even  at 
this  early  period,  these  American  productions 
were  allowed  by  competent  judges  to  be  equal 
to  any  ever  imported  into  England.  The  dress  in 
possession  of  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Pinckney, 
Mrs.  Horry,  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
was  in  1809,  still  in  a  good  state  of  preserva- 
tion, and  remarkable  for  its  beauty,  firmness 
and  strength.     Though  the  quantity  of  raw 
silk  exported  from  this  country  was  always 
small,  yet  its  quality  according  to  the  certifi- 
cate of  Sir  Thomas  Lombe,  the  eminent  silk 
manufacturer,  was  excellent,  having  as  much 
strength  and  beauty  as  the  silk  of  Italy. 

In  Georgia,  at  New  Bordeaux,  a  French 
settlement  about  70  miles  above  Augusta,  the 
people  supplied  much  of  the  high  country 
with  sewing  silk  during  the  war  of  the  revo- 
lution. 

In  the  year  1770,  we  see  it  stated  by  the 
editor  of  the  Genesee  Farmer,  that  a  filature 
was  established  in  Philadelphia,  and  premi- 
ums announced,  and  that  in  the  following  year, 
1771,  about  2,300  Ibs.  of  silk  were  brought 
there  to  reel.  The  ladies  in  particular  gave 
great  attention  to  the  subject.  As  early  as 
1770,  Mrs.  Susanna  Wright,  at  Columbia, 
Lancaster  county,  made  a  piece  of  manlua,  60 
yards  in  length  from  her  own  cocoons ;  and 
that,  to  give  eclat  to  these  colonial  designs, 
the  Queen  of  Great  Britain  gave  her  patron- 
age by  appearing  in  a  court  dress  made  from 
American  silk.  Grace  Fisher,  a  minister 
among  friends,  made  considerable  silk  stuff: 
a  piece  of  which  was  presented  by  governor 
Dickinson  to  the  celebrated  Catharine  Ma- 
cauley.  It  is  also  stated  that  many  ladies  be- 
fore the  revolution  wore  silk  dresses  of  their 
own  fabrication. 

In  the  year  1771,  the  culture  of  the  silk 
worm  commenced  with  considerable  spirit  in 
the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
and  a  society  was  formed  for  that  purpose. 


labors,  and  suspended,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
culture  of  silk.     Some  few  of  the  more  per- 
severing of  the  members  of  the  society,  still 
continued  the  culture  on  a  small  scale,  pro- 
ducing from  year  to  year  a  sufficiency  of  sew- 
ing silk  for  domestic  use.     In  1790  Nathan- 
iel Aspinwall,  of  Connecticut,  made  a  patri- 
otic effort  to  revive  the   Mulberry   culture 
in  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
and  planted,  and  caused  to  be  planted,  thou- 
sands of  trees  in  those  states,  for  which  good 
service,  his  memory  deserves  to  be  embalmed 
in  the  grateful  recollections  of  his  countrymen. 
Among  those  gentlemen  who  took  an  active 
part  in  starting  the  culture  in  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey,  in  1771,  Doctor  Franklin 
and  Dr.  Cadwallader  Evans  stood  conspicu- 
ous, as  they  did  in  all  other  good  works  with- 
in the  range  of  their  influence. 

During  the  last  few  years  a  spirit  has  been 
revived  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  engage 
in  the  silk  culture,  and  particularly  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  where  several 
large  establishments  are  projected  and  being 
projected.  One  of  the  great  obstructions  in 
the  advance  of  the  silk  culture  in  this  country, 
from  the  earliest  attempts  to  establish  it,  has 
been  the  want  of  a  market  for  the  sale  of  the 
raw  silk,  either  in  cocoons,  or  when  reeled ; 
and  another  is,  the  idea  which  prevails  of  the 
immense  difficulty  of  reeling  it  to  advantage  ; 
but  both  of  these  have  ceased  to  operate ; 
markets  in  the  eastern  cities,  offering  fair  re- 
munerating prices,  are  already  established  for 
any  quantity  of  raw  silk  in  any  state  in  which 
it  may  be  offered,  and  the  simplicity  of  the 
newly  invented  reel  of  Mr.  Gay  has  brought 
the  art  down  to  the  level  of  almost  any  capa- 
city. For  ourself  we  have  ever  looked  upon 
the  difficulty  of  reeling  as  being  much  more 
imaginary  than  real,  and  the  success  of  the 
lady  of  whom  we  spoke  a  few  weeks 
back,  who,  with  an  old  thread  reel,  managed 
to  disengage  the  web  from  the  cocoons  and  to 
make  as  excellent  sewing  silk  as  we  ever  be- 
held, shews  that  we  were  correct.  We  have 
been  taught,  from  our  youth  up,  that  no  diffi- 
culties are  insurmountable  when  opposed  by 
willing  hearts  and  industrious  hands,  and  we 


have  scarcely  ever  seen  an  instance  in  which 
the  truth  of  the  position  was  not  fully  estab- 
lished. 

At  Economy,  Pennsylvania,  near  Pitts- 
burgh, the  culture  in  all  its  branches,  from 
the  feeding  of  the  worm  to  the  manufacture  oJ 
the  silk  is  extensively  carried  on  by  those 
worthy  gentlemen  and  public  spirited  men, 
the  Messrs.  Rapp,  and  we  have  seen  specimens 
of  the  silk  wove  there,  which  were  no  less 
beautiful  to  the  eye  than  elastic  in  quality. 

Mr.  Joseph  Ripka  of  Philadelphia  has  a 
flourishing  plantation  containing  ten  acres  of 
Mulberry  trees  on  the  Point-no-Point  road, 
and  intends  entering  into  the  silk  culture  on  a 
large  scale;  and  a  Mr.  Upton,  also  of  Phila- 
delphia, has  been  engaged  in  the  silk  manu- 
facture, but  to  what  extent  we  are  unable  to 
say. 

In  Maryland  the  culture  of  the  Mulberry 
and  silk  worm  has  for  many  years  been  con- 
ducted on  a  small  scale  by  individuals.  We 
have  seen  many  specimens  of  fine  sewing  silk, 
and  have  been  informed  that  several  ladies  in 
the  lower  part  of  this  state  on  the  Western 
Shore,  as  well  as  others  on  the  Eastern,  have 
succeeded  in  fabricating  very  pretty  speci- 
mens of  silk  cloth.  Among  those  in  our  own 
city  who  have  taken  a  lead  in  this  business, 
we  should  not  omit  to  mention  the  names  of 
Mrs.  Kesiah  Norris,  Mrs.  Flax,  Mr.  Wm. 
B.  Buchanan,  Mr.  Gideon  B.  Smith  and  Mr. 
J.  Y.  Tompkins.  The  three  latter  individuals 
have  largely  contributed  by  their  intelligent 
and  praiseworthy  labors,  not  only  to  keep 
alive  the  spirit  of  enterprise,  but  have  thrown 
much  light  upon  the  subject.  Mrs.  Norris 
too,  deserves  especial  notice,  being  of  late 
years,  perhaps  the  first  one  to  engage  in  it  in 
this  quarter ;  and  had  she  not  been  cut  off  in 
the  midst  of  her  usefulness,  we  have  no  doubt 
she  would  long  ere  this  have  brought  the  manu- 
facture to  perfection.  Some  years  before  her 
death  she  and  her  husband  had  settled  upon  a 
small  estate  near  Baltimore,  and  commenced  a 
plantation  of  the  Mulberry,  with  the  view  of 
carrying  on  the  business,  and  just  as  those 
trees  were  beginning  to  yield  food  for  her 
worms,  she  was  stricken  to  the  earth.  It  does 
not  appear  that  any  one  else  in  Maryland,  so 
far  as  our  researches  have  gone,  ever  under- 
took it  as  a  branch  of  husbandry,  and  this  is 
the  more  to  be  wondered  at,  as  no  state  in  the 
Union  is  more  happily  situated  for  conducting 
it  to  advantage.  Her  climate  and  soil  are  both 
peculiarly  adapted  to  the  culture  of  the  Mul- 
berry ;  she  has  a  great  proportion  of  light, 


sandy,  gravelly  and  dry  .lands,  which  years  of 
exhausting  culture  have  rendered  almost  use- 
less for  other  agricultural  purposes,  that  could 
be  profitably  occupied  in  this  culture.  These 
circumstances  would  seem  to  point  out  with 
unerring  certainty  the  policy  of  entering  into 
the  silk  culture,  not  only  to  Maryland,  but  to 
every  other  state  in  the  Union  similarly  situa- 
ted, and  without  intending  or  wishing  to  be  un- 
derstood as  being  invidious,  we  might  mention 
as  kindred  states,  New  Jersey,  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  South 
Carolina,  as  well  as  parts  of  Georgia. 

In  Connecticut,  attention  to  the  culture  of 
silk  commenced  about  the  year  1760,  by  the 
introduction  of  the  White  Mulberry  tree  and 
eggs  of  the  silk  worms,  into  the  county  of 
Windham  and  town  of  Mansfield,  from  Long 
Island,  New  York,  by  that  patriotic  citizen 
and  enterprising  agriculturist  to  whom  we 
have  before  alluded,  Mr.  N.  Aspinwall,  who 
had  there  planted  a  large  nursery.  He  also 
planted  an  extensive  nursery  of  the  trees 
in  New  Haven,  and  was  active  in  obtaining 
of  the  Legislature  of  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
an  act  granting  a  bounty  for  planting  of  the 
trees.  The  premium  was  liberal,  being  ten 
shillings  for  every  hundred  trees  which  should 
be  planted,  and  preserved  in  thrifty  condition 
for  three  years,  and  three  pence  per  ounce  for 
all  raw  silk  which  the  owners  of  trees  should 
produce  from  cocoons  of  their  own  raising 
within  the  state.  After  the  necessity  of  a 
bounty  upon  trees  had  ceased,  one  was 
granted  on  raw  silk  manufactured  within  the 
state.  An  old  statute  continues  in  force,  which 
requires  skeins  of  sewing  silk  to  consist  of 
twenty  threads  each  two  yards  long. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  mention  as  an 
act  of  justice,  that  in  England  the  most  intense 
anxiety  existed  to  further  the  culture  of  silk 
n  this  country,  nor  was  this  praiseworthy  so- 
icitation  confined  to  the  King  or  his  ministers; 
ndividual  associations  fully  participated.  The 
satriotic  society  in  London  for  the  promotion 
of  arts,  #c.  paid  several  hundred  pounds  ster- 
ing  between  the  years  1755  and   1772,  for 
Dremiums  for  planting  Mulberry  trees,  and  for 
cocoons  and  raw  silk  made,  to  various  per- 
sons in  Georgia,  South  Carolina  and  Connec- 
ticut. 

After  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  business 
of  the  silk  culture  was  renewed  and  gradually 
xtended;  and  it  is  recorded  that  in  the  year 
1789,  200  Ibs.  of  raw  silk  were  made  in  the 
town  of  Mansfield,  in  Windham  county,  Con- 
necticut. In  1810,  the  value  of  the  sewing 


17 


silk,  made  in  the  three  counties  of  New  Lon- 
don, Windham,  and  Tolland,   was  estimated 
by  the  U.  S.  Marshal,  at  $28,503,    but  the 
value  of  the  domestic  fabrics  made  from  the 
refuse  silk,  and  worn  in  these  counties  is  not 
taken  into  the  account;  and  it  is  affirmed  that 
they  may  be  fairly  estimated  at  half  of  that 
sum.     In  1885,  it  is  stated  that  the  silk  culture 
had  increased  so  much  in  Windham  county  as 
to  be  double  what  it  was  in  1 8 1 0.     In  the  let- 
ter of  the  Hon.  Ambrose  Spencer  of  Albany, 
of  New  York,  to  S.  M.  Hopkins,  Esquire,  of 
Geneva,   of  the   same  state,   dated   the   7th 
April,  1835,  he  introduced  the  following  as 
facts,  on  the  authority  of  the  Burlington  Free 
Press :  that  raw  silk  was  produced  in  the  town 
of  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  to  the  amount  of 
over   $6O,OOO   in    1834;    and    that   the 
county  of  Windham  produces  five  tons  of  silk 
annually,  valued  at  $5<MMMIO,  and  that  if 
reeled  would  be  worth  double  that  sum.  This 
statement  the  judge  fully  believes  is  substan- 
tially true.     Whether  the  other  counties  en- 
gaged in  its  culture  in  Connecticut  have  been 
blessed  with  an  equal  ratio  of  increase,  we  have 
no  present  means  of  ascertaining;   but  from 
the  general  reputation  for  sagacity  and  thrift 
of  the  people.,  we  rest  assured  that  there  has 
been  no  standing  still  in  the  prosecution  of  a 
business   offering   so    many    inducements   of 
pleasure,  interest  and  profit.      In  1828,  the 
Hon.  Zalmon  Storrs  stated  in  answer  to  a  cir- 
cular addressed  to  him  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  treasury,  "  that  three-fourths  of  the  fami- 
lies in  the  town  of  Mansfield  were  engaged  in 
raising  silk,  and  make  annually  from  o  to  10, 
20,  and  50  Ibs.  in  a  family,  and  one  or  two 
have  made  each  100  Ibs.  in  a  season ;  it  is  be- 
lieved that  there  are  annually  made  in  Mans- 
field and  the  vicinity  from  three  to  four  tons. 
The  farmers  there,  considered,  at  the  period 
of  which  we  are  speaking,  the  amount  receiv- 
ed for  their  sewing  silk  as   so  much  clear 
gain,  as  the  business  did  not  interfere  with  the 
regular  farm  work  of  the  men,  or  the  domes- 
tic duties  of  the  females,  upon  whom  with  the 
aged  and  youthful  members  of  the  family,  the 
care   of  the  worms,  and  the  making  of  the 
sewing  silk  chiefly  devolves." 

A  new  factory  has  just  been  erected  at. 
Hartford,  called  the  Connecticut  silk  factory, 
with  a  capital  of  upwards  of  40,000  dollars; 
the  building  is  120  feet  long  by  44  feet  wide, 
two  stories  high,  with  a  basement  story.  This 
factory  has  about  100  silk  looms  with  ma- 
chinery, the  whole  to  be  operated  by  a  steam 
engine  of  8  or  10  horse  power.  For  want  of 
3  ' 


raw  silk,  the  company  has  been  compelled  td 
go  into  the  manufacture  of  Tuscan  straw, 
gimps,  fringes,  tyc.  articles  in  which  but  lit- 
tle raw  silk  is  incorporated.  A  circumstance 
which  shows  that  the  demand  is  very  far  in 
advance  of  the  supply:  and  another  is  going 
into  operation  at  Concord ;  the  latter  estab- 
lishment has  commenced  the  cultivation  of 
the  Mulberry. 

Mr.  Harvey  Johnson,  in  a  letter  to  the  edi- 
tor of  the  Silkworm,  states,  that  his  father  as 
far  back  as  50  y^ars  ago  planted  "  2000  trees 
and  carried  on  the  silk  business  in  Connecti- 
cut for  a  number  of  years,  that  though  it  was 
difficult  to  find  workmen  who  understood  dye- 
ing, weaving  or  manufacturing,  they  made  a 
number  of  pieces  of  cloth  for  women  and  men's 
wear,  one  piece  of  handkerchiefs,  and  a  num- 
ber of  pairs  of  stockings,  some  knit  and  some 
wove,  and  some  pairs  of  gloves,  and  he  has 
still  a  pair  of  gloves  which  he  believes  were 
made  35  years  ago." 

Societies  having  for  their  object  the  intro- 
duction and  extension  throughout  the  respec- 
tive counties,  of  the  knowledge  and  practice  of 
raising  Mulberry  trees,  of  feeding  and  manag- 
ing silk  worms,  and  reeling  silk  from  the  ca- 
coons  in  the  most  approved  methods,  have 
been  formed  in  the  counties  of  Hartford,  New 
Haven,  Middlesex  and  Fairfield.  In  Nor- 
wich a  company  has  been  formed,  who  have 
planted  1,000  trees,  and  fed  the  last  season 
1 20,000  worms. 

The  Legislature  with  a  most  laudable  de- 
sire to  promote  the  interests  of  the  state,  have 
passed  a  law  giving  a  bounty  of  one  dollar  for 
every  hundred  Mulberry  trees  properly  plant- 
ed and  cultivated  until  they  are  five  years  old, 
and  also  fifty  cents  for  every  pound  of  silk  reel- 
ed in  the  present  improved  mode ;  and  still  fur- 
ther to  extend  its  fostering  care  to  this  pecu- 
liar branch  of  industry,  in  chartering  the  Ex- 
change Bank,  they  rendered  it  obligatory  upon 
that  institution  to  furnish  every  county  i-n  the 
state,  applying  therefor,  with  8  Ibs.  of  Mul- 
berry seed,  and  also  wish  eggs  of  the  silk 
worm  not  exceeding  100,000;  one  reel  for 
the  purpose  of  reeling  the  silk,  as  also  a  per- 
son capable  of  teaching  the  art  and  mystery  of 
raising  the  Mulberry,  and  reeling  the  silk, 
which  service  is  to  be  continued  for  five 
years. 

The  edhorof  the  Silk  Culturistsaysthathe 
has  in  his  possession  several  samples  of  beau- 
tiful changable  silk  made  in  Berlin,  Connec- 
ticut, in  1791,  by  Mrs.  Elishama  Brandr.gee, 
taken  from  dresses  now  in  the  family  of  Mr. 


18 


Brandegee,  one  of  her  sons,  who  says  he 
helped  to  pick  the  leaves  to  feed  the  worms, 
and|that  the  silk  was  reeled  by  his  mother  and 
wove  in  that  town.  The  fabric  is  even  and 
the  surface  is  smooth  and  lustrous,  the  colors 
bright  and  fast.  The  sample  of  one  dress  is 
wove  of  red  and  black,  and  was  intended  for 
a  present  to  the  lady  of  General  Washington, 
but  for  some  cause  not  remembered  was  never 
presented  to  her. 

In  all  the  other  New  England  states,  with 
the  exception  of  Maine,  perhaps,  more  or  less 
attention  has  been  given  to  the  silk  culture. 
In  Massachusetts    great  attention   has   been 
paid  to  it  within  the  last  few  years,  and  the  art 
of  manufacturing  the   article  has,   perhaps, 
been  brought  to  greater  perfection  there  than 
in  any  other  part  of  our  country.     Mr.  Cobb, 
of  Dedham,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  began  the 
cultivation  of  the  Mulberry  tree  in  1826,  and 
since  that  time,  notwithstanding  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  which  is  not  the  most  favorable,  has, 
extended  his  operations  so  much  as  to  be  able 
to  bring  his  manufactured  silk  to  the  Boston 
market  to  the  amount  of  about  one  hundred 
dollars  per  week."     Mr.  Cobb's  factory  has 
lately  been  merged  in  a  new  company,  with  a 
capital  of  $100,000,  called  the  New  England 
Silk  Company,  whose  sole  object  is  the  manu- 
facture of  silk  under  the  superintendence  of 
Mr.  Cobb.     Another  company  has  been  form- 
ed with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  and  have  al- 
ready commenced  the  erection  of  a  factory 
for  the  manufacture  of  silk  at  Northampton, 
and  it  is  their  intention  to  supply  themselves 
with  food  for  the  worms  from  a  plantation  of 
their  own  Mulberry  trees.     In  the  county  of 
Essex,  it  is  stated  that  some  years  since,  in 
consequence  of  the   recommendation  of  the 
agricultural  society,  several  farmers  planted 
the  Mulberry  tree  very  extensively,  and  that 
there  are  at  this  time  growing  there,  in  full 
vigor,  upwards  of  100,000  trees,  which  would 
yield  silk  amply  sufficient  to  supply  that  coun- 
ty with  silk,  besides  being  a  supply  for  expor- 
tation. 

Capt  A.  Holcomb,  of  Sterling,  Mass.,  has 
a  fine  orchard  of  Mulberry  trees  now  10  years 
old,  upon  which  he  fed  his  silk  worms  the 
present  season. 

The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  in  a 
just  spirit  of  enlightened  patriotism,  has  passed 
a  law  granting  a  bounty  of  50  cents  for  every 
pound  of  silk  reeled  or  thrown  from  cocoons 
raised  in  that  state.  This  act  is  to  continue 
in  force  for  two  years,  and  will  doubtless 
tend  to  stimulate  the  farmers  of  that  state  to 


enter  into  the  culture  of  silk  with  all  becom- 
ing zeal,  as  this  bounty  will  at  least  cover  the 
expense  of  reeling,  and  thus  enhance  the  profit 
to  the  grower.  Having  alluded  to  the  profit 
of  the  culture  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts, 
we  shall  mention  a  fact  which  we  find  in  the 
Silk  Worm,  a  most  excellent  and  well  con- 
ducted monthly  publication,  edited  by  S.  Bly- 
denbwgh,,  of  Albany,  New  York.  It  is  there 
given  as  being  comprised  in  the  "  Instruc- 
tions" upon  the  silk  culture,  issued  by  the 


Hamilton  county  agricultural  society  of  Ohio, 
last  year. 

"  Four  acres  of  ground  planted  in  Mulber- 
ry trees,  near  Boston,  afforded  enough  food, 
in  one  season,  for  the  support  of  as  many  silk 
worms  as  produced  four  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds  of  silk,  worth  three  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  pound,  amounting  to  $1,470.     All 
the  labor  was  performed  by  four  girls,  whose 
attention  was  required  but  a  small  portion  of 
the  year."      This  fact  contains   one   of  the 
most  powerful  arguments  in  favor  of  the  cul- 
ture which  we  have  yet  seen.     We  find  four 
girls — farmers'  daughters,  or  helps,  as  hired 
persons  are  called  to  the  eastward, — success- 
fully  attending   to    four  acres  of  Mulberry 
trees,  gathering  the  leaves,  feeding  the  worms 
and  performing  all  the  labor  incident  to  the 
business,  and  what  is  the  result?     Why  at 
the  depressed  price  of  $3  50  per  pound  they 
made  silk  enough  to  bring  $1,400,  or  $350 
to  each  hand  :  now  if  the  present  price  which 
prevails  in  Massachusetts,  $4  per  pound  from 
the  purchaser,  and  fifty  cents  from  the  state, 
had  then  prevailed,  each   of  those  females 
would  have  averaged  $472  25,  or  the  whole 
have  made,  in  the  aggregate,  $1,890,  and  in- 
dependent of  the  state  bounty,  the  J20  Ibs.  of 
silk  would  have  brought  $1,680,  or  $420  to 
each  of  the  females  engaged  in  the  feeding  of 
the  worms.     And   as   on   an   average  3,000 
worms,  completing  their  cocoons,  will  make  a 
pound  of   silk,    there  were    but   1,260,000 
worms  fed  on  these  four  acres,  whereas  that 
quantity   of  land    is  competent    to   produce 
leaves  enough  to  support  2,160,000  worms; 
thus  it  is  evident,  that  the  produce  here  re- 
corded is  far  from  being  a  large  one,  for  had 
the  orchard  been  planted  to  the  extent  of  the 
capacity  of  the  ground,  720  Ibs.  of  silk  might 
just  as  readily  have  been  raised  as  the  420 
Ibs. 

In  this  state,  several  laboratories,  or  as 
the  silk  worm  houses  are  familiarly  called, 
cocooneries,  have  been  established,  and  more 
are  contemplated.  Amongst  the  most  important 


19 


of  these,  we  would  mention  those  of  Mr. 
Whitmarsh,  Dr.  Seeger  and  Dr.  Stebbins.  i 
That  of  the  first  named  gentleman  is  calcula- 
ted to  accommodate  nearly  jive  millions  of 
•worms,  but  at  present  his  number  does  not  ex- 
ceed eight  hundred  thousand.  The  capacity 
of  Dr.  Seeger's  is  but  for  16,000,  and  that  of 
Dr.  Stebbins  for  20,000:  but  the  companies 
to  which  we  have  before  reverted  will  have 
still  more  extensive  ones,  as  their  means  of 
supporting  worms  may  be  developed.  The 
number  of  large  establishments,  is,  however,  no 
criterion  to  judge  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
silk  business  in  this  state ;  for  almost  every 
farm-house  is  or  soon  will  be,  a  greater  or 
lesser  laboratory,  each  farmer  making  the  silk 
culture  a  branch  of  his  system  of  husbandry, 
which  is  mainly  attended  to  by  the  women 
and  children,  who  are  thus  made  the  most 
productive  portions  of  each  establishment. 

In  the  state  of  New  York  no  large  results 
have  as  yet  taken  place,  though  for  several 
years  an  active  spirit  of  inquiry  has  been  very 
laudably  kept  alive  by  the  enterprising  agricul- 
turists; and  during  the  late  war  the  culture 
was  carried  on  to  some  extent  by  Mr.  Samuel 
Chidsey,  Cayuga  county,  who  manufactured 
during  that  period  sewing  silk  to  the  amount 
of  $600  per  annum;  and  this  gentleman  also  in- 
troduced the  culture  of  the  Mulberry  into  the 
town  of  Scipio,  on  its  first  settlement.     The 
success  which  have  attended  the  exertions  of 
their  neighbors,  has,  however,  a  wakened  a  feel- 
ing of  emulation,  and  associations  have  already 
been  formed,  and  are  forming,  for  the  purpose 
of  extensively  carrying  on  the  business.  A  com- 
pany is  already  in  operation  at  Poughkeepsie, 
at  the  head  of  which  is  the  Hon.  Mr.  Tall- 
madge,  U.  S.  Senator,  and  a  society  has  be"en 
established  in  the.  city  of  New   York   with 
similar  objects.     The  silk  business  has  been 
recommended  to  be  introduced  into  the  Peni- 
tentiary, so  that  the  state  will  soon  bepome 
interested  in  its  success,    and    although    we 
doubt  the  propriety  of  bringing  the  labor  of 
convicts  into    competition  with  that  of   the 
honest  husbandmen  of  the  country,  in  so  beau- 
tiful and  delicate  a  business,  we  have  no  doubt 
that  good  may  grow  out  of  what  we  view  in 
the  light  of  a  wretchedly  short-sighted  expedi- 
ent. 

In  Rhode  Island,  the  business  is  becoming 
popular,  and  a  company  is  already  in  exist- 
ence at  Providence,  who  have  a  plantation  of 
30,000  trees,  from  four  to  five  years  old,  from 
six  to  eight  feet  high.  Of  the  productiveness 
of  the  trees  of  this  plantation,  we  have  seen 


some  very  sanguine  calculations,  such  as  that 
each  tree,  for  the  next  five  years  would  aver- 
age half  a  pound  of  silk,  making  in  the  ag- 
gregate 1 5,000  Ibs.  of  silk:  this,  in  our  belief 
is  greatly  beyond  what  those  trees  would 
produce  even  at  20  years  old,  and  at  present 
by  at  least  in  the  proportion  of  2£  to  1.  The 
highest  estimate  of  the  quantity  of  foliage 
produced  by  trees  of  the  age  of  the  above,  is 
30  Ibs.  which  would  only  support  600  worms 
during  the  feeding  season,  and  as  it  takes  3,000 
cocoons  to  make  a  pound  of  silk,  it  would 
take  2|  of  these  trees  to  make  a  ^  pound, 
so  that  6,000  pounds  is  much  nearer  the 
amount  of  their  probable  yield  than  15,000, 
as  assumed  in  the  statement  whence  we  take 
this. 

In  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  many  far- 
mers' wives  and  daughters  have  fed  worms 
for  several  years  as  matter  of  curiosity  more 
than  of  profit ;  but  within  the  last  few  years 
they  are  beginning  to  turn  their  attention  to  it 
as  a  lucrative  business,  having  the  past  spring 
been  engaged  in  arranging  4heir  orchards, 
and  although  less  favourably  circumstanced 
as  to  climate  than  the  other  New  England 
tates,  there  is  no  question  that  the  enterprise 
of  the  people  of  these  states,  will,  at  least, 
succeed  in  maktog  it  a  profitable  branch  of 
their  system  of  agriculture. 

In  Maine,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  little  or 
nothing  has  been  done  •,  but  it  is  not  to  be  pre- 
sumed that  a  hardy,  industrious  and  intelligent 
population  like  that  of  Maine,  will  sit  with 
folded  arms  and  see  the  palm  of  victory  borne 
in  triumph  by  their  neighbors,  without  at 
least  placing  themselves  in  a  position  to  con- 
tend for  the  rich  prize. 

In  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  many  individuals 
have  been  for  some  years  engaged  in  hatch- 
ing small  numbers  of  eggs,  and  feeding  the 
worms,  In  the  latter  state  a  very  efficient 
society  has  been  formed  with  a  view  of  col- 
lecting and  disseminating  information.  In  In- 
diana, where  the  Agricultural  Societies  are 
invested  with  chartered  rights,  and  where 
from  the  very  nature  of  the  enactments  which 
give  them  being,  they  must  exercise  a  health- 
ful influence,  the  business  of  the  Mulberry 
and  silk  culture  is  especially  taken  up  by  the 
General  State  Board,  as  a  matter  of  primary 
concern,  and  we  have  no  doubt  the  happiest 
effects  will  spring  from  their  praiseworthy 
exertions.  In  Illinois,  while  inhabited  by 
the  French,  silk  is  said  to  have  been  raised  by 
that  notable  people;  but  to  what  extent  we 
have  no  present  means  of  ascertaining ;  nor 


are  we  able  to  trace  the  period  when  the  cul- 
ture was  arrested.  Many  of  the  trees,  how- 
ever, we  are  told,  remain,  and  it  would  be  an 
easy  matter  to  multiply  these,  and  commence 
anew  this  profitable  branch  of  business.  No 
one  who  knows  the  enterprising  character  of 
the  people  of  the  west  can  presume,  that  they 
will  leave  so  good  a  chance  of  emolument  un- 
improved, when  they  have  so  many  facilities 
within  their  possession  for  entering  into  the 
culture  under  most  favorable  auspices. 

We  have  thus  briefly  sketched  the  princi- 
pal facts  as  they  have  been  placed  within  our 
reach,  and  without  pretending  to  have  given 
any  thing  like  a  full  view,  we  merely  claim 
for  what  we  have  written,  the  desire  of  fideli- 
ty, which  has  never  been  absent  from  our 
mind  for  a  solitary  instant. 

In  closing  this  branch  of  our  labors,  we 
must  be  indulged  in  a  few  remarks  expres- 
sive of  our  hopes,  that  a  feeling  and  an  inter- 
est has  already  been  aroused,  which  will  not 
slumber  until  the  triumph  shall  be  complete. 
We  are  doubly  solicitous  on  this  head,  be- 
cause we  see  in  the  success  of  the  silk  cul- 
ture, the  surest  means  that  philanthropy  could 
desire,  for  sustaining  the  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  poor  women  and  children,  whose 
support  is  now  stinted  and  precarious ;  be- 
cause we  see  in  it  too,  a  radical  cure  for  an 


evil  which  is  sweeping  the  inhabitants  from 
the  old  settlements  with  a  force  which  almost 
threatens  depopulation  to  many  neighbor- 
hoods; and  lastly,  because,  it  will  afford  the 
pecuniary  ability  of  improving  the  other  por- 
tions of  each  estate  on  which  its  culture  may 
be  introduced.  To  several  of  the  old  states, 
it  offers  the  only  available  resource  for  politi- 
cal safety, — the  only  guaranty  against  those 
encroachments  which  never  fail  to  follow  in 
that  train  of  evils  that  befal  the  weak  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  pmoerful.  There  is  no  truth 
more  firmly  enforced  by  history,  than  that 
peace  and  independence,  is  only  to  be  expected 
where  the  ability  to  repel  and  punish  aggres- 
sion is  enjoyed.  It  should,  therefore,  be  the 
policy  of  small  powers  living  in  close  vicinage 
with  large  ones,  to  keep  a  careful  prospective 
eye  about  them,  in  order  that  their  more  po- 
tent neighbors  may  not  be  provoked  by  their 
weakness  to  contemplate  their  subjugation ; 
for  the  history  of  the  ancient  Republics  con- 
firms the  melancholy  truth,  that  power,  in  the 
view  of  nations,  is  but  another  word  for  right; 
that  the  ties  of  consanguinity  and  the  claims 
of  common  origin,  offer  no  barriers  to  that 
unchastened  ambition  and  unbounded  desire 
of  conquest,  which  is  indulged  in  by  most 
states,  towards  their  weaker  neighbors. 


MULBERRY  CULTURE. 


AT  the  beginning  of  the  culture  of  silk  in 
Europe,  the  Black  Mulberry,  Morus  Nigra,  was 
principally  used;  but  upon  mature  experience 
it  was  found  that  the  Morus  Jllba,  the  white 
Italian  Mulberry,  was  better  adapted  to  the  cul- 
ture. This  however  must  be  considered  rela- 
tively only,  and  as  alluding  exclusively  to  a  com- 
parison between  these  two  particular  varieties, 
and  it  must  be  considered  too,  as  having  relation 
to  a  period  long  before  the  Morus  Multicaulis, 
the  broad  silky  leaved,  new  variety,  of  the  Chi- 
nese or  many  stalked  Mulberry,  was  introduced 
either  into  Europe  or  America,  that  being  on- 
ly within  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years  known 
in  either  country.  It  may,  therefore,  perhaps,  be 
proper  to  express  our  opinion  of  it,  and  this  we 
shall  do  with  perfect  integrity  of  purpose.  Like 
most  of  the  exotic  trees  of  China  origin,  which 
have  been  introduced  into  America  within 
the  last  few  years,  sufficient  time  has  not  yet 
elapsed  to  test  whether  it  will  become  accli- 
mated or  not.  The  last  severe  winter,  however, 
would  go  very  far  to  settle  the  question,  if  the 
fate  of  all  the  trees  planted  in  our  country  were 
known,  for  it  may  be  fairly  affirmed,  that  no 
winter,  within  the  recollection  of  living  witness- 
es, has  ever  been  more  intensely  cold  than  it  was ; 
nor  were  there  ever  one  better  calculated  to  test 
the  ability  of  foreign  trees  to  withstand  frosts. 
What  effect  it  had  upon  the  Morus  Multicaulis, 
then,  becomes  a  matter  of  deep  moment,  of  pro- 
found and  absorbing  interest.  It  it  known  that 
the  whole  tribe  of  Mulberries  are  tenacious  of 
life,  and  will,  where  but  the  least  chance  is  giv- 
en them,  support  vitality  ;  sometimes,  indeed,  in 
despite  of  the  harshest  and  most  neglectful  treat- 
ment, they  willlive  on  lo  shew  to  those  by  whom 
they  have  been  thus  rudely  treated,  how  uncon- 
querable are  their  powers  of  preserving  exist- 
ence. And  so  far  as  our  experience  goes,  and 
as  we  have  been  able  to  derive  any  information 
upon  the  subject,  the  Morus  Multicaulis  does  not 
form  an  exception  to  the  general  rule.  In  most 
of  the  eastern  states,  where  this  beautiful  tree 
has  been  introduced,  it  suffered  greatly  from 
the  frosts  of  last  winter;  generally  being  killed 
down  to  the  ground.  Dr.  Stebbins,  the  intelli- 
gent Secretary  of  Hampshire  County  Agricultu- 
ral Society,ofMassachusetts,in  theaccount  of  his 
inspection  of  several  establishments  where  it  was 


grosvn,  states,  "  that  he  had  examined  a  standard 
tree  of  the  Morus  Muliicaulis,  which  was  set  in 
an  exposed  situation,  and  has  withstood  the  se- 
verity of  the  three  last  winters,  as  uninjured  as 
an  elm  or  oak,  or  any  of  the  most  hardy  for- 
est trees.  It  has  attained  about  its  greatest 
height,  8  feet,  and  is  in  full  life  to  the  extremity 
of  the  topmost  shoot.  The  grass  that  has  grown 
about  the  roots,  therefore,  has  not  been  much 
disturbed  by  hoeing,  and  in  consequence  acquir- 
ed hard  wosd,  the  very  result  wanted  by  the  cul- 
tivator of  the  Chinese  Mulberry.  In  the  New 
England  Farmer,  Vol.  Xfl,  page  393,  in  an  arti- 
cle by  Mr.  William  Kenrick,it  is  observed: — "this 
Mulberry  braves  the  most  rigorous  winters  of 
France,  not  having  suffered  in  the  least  even  du- 
ring the  severe  winter  of  1829 — 30.  I  have  ta- 
ken particular  pains  to  ascertain  how  they  have 
fared  in  the  extreme  north  of  that  country,  and 
have  very  lately  been  informed  by  letter  from  M. 
Eyries,  a  gentleman  from  Havre,  that  they  have 
supported  well,  during  ten  years  the  most  rigor- 
ous winters  of  the  north  of  France."  Again  he 
says  :— 

"  Very  late  in  the  spring  of  1833,  more  than  a 
hundred  young  trees  of  the  Morus  Multicaulis 
were  set  out  on  the  place  of  S.  V.  Wilder,  Esq. 
in  Boston,  Worcester  county,  Mass.  The  soil 
springy,  the  exposition  cold  and  sloping  to  the 
north  ;  Mr.  Joseph  Breck,  a  distinguished  bota- 
nist, having  especial  charge  of  these  plants,  has 
lately  very  critically  examined  them.  Thus  un- 
favorably situated  and  unprotected,  they  have 
borne  the  last  winter,  1833 — 34,  without  injury, 
except  only  the  top  of  the  twigs.  Mr.  Breck  is 
persuaded  that  they  are  even  hardier  than  the 
common  White  Mulberry,  since  some  hundred  of 
the  latter  which  stood  very  near  were  killed  half 
way  down  to  the  ground  by  the  same  winter. 

Another  correspondent  of  the  same  Journal, 
who  writes  under  the  signature  of  R.  advances 
the  opinion,  and  "cites  facts  to  maintain  his  be- 
lief, that  the  Chinese  Mulberry  is  more  hardy 
than  many  of  our  orchard,  or  even  forest  trees, 
but  may  be  killed  when  young,  if  planted  in  a 
rich  moist  soil." 

In  North  Carolina,  we  learn  from  an  esteem- 
ed friend  and  valuable  correspondent,  Mr.  Sid- 
ney Weller,  that  his  trees  "endured  the  severe 
frosts  very  well.  The  only  injury  is,  that  the 


top  ends  of  some  brandies  have  been  killed." 
In  the  lower  part  of  Virginia,  where  some  of  the 
JVforu*   Multicaulis  have    been  introduced,  we 
have  understood  they  were  killed  to  the  ground. 
In    the    vicinity     of  Baltimore    they    shared    a 
similar  fate.     But  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  being 
borne  in  mind — of  being  well  considered, — that, 
in  every  instance  where  they  were  killed  to  the 
ground,  the  Morus    Multicaulis  snooted    forth 
with  the  earliest  vegetation  of  the  spring,  and 
grew   most  vigorously.     We    passed  through  a 
nursery    of  two  thousand  of  them  in  the  early 
part  of  September,  that  had  been  killed  to  the 
ground  last  winter,  which  were  then  about  8  feet 
high,  bearing  a  most  luxuriant  crop  of  the  most 
beautiful,  broad)  and  silky  leaves,  from  the  earth 
to  the  very  verge  of  their  topmost  shoots,  and 
presenting  at  a  short  distance  the  appearance  of 
a  dense  and  inseparable  body  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive foliage  we  ever  beheld.     We  have  been  the 
more  minute  in  our  notice  of  this  variety  of  the 
Mulberry,  because  of  the  deep  interest  which 
has  been  awakened,  in  every  part  of  the  country, 
to  the  importance  of  the  silk  culture,  and  of  the 
character  for  superiority,  over  every  other  of  the 
same  family,  as  food  for   worms,  so  universally 
conceded  to  it  by    every  one.    To   those  who 
may  enter  into  the  business   extensively,  where 
labor   is  a  primary  object,  the  leaf  of  this  tree, 
does,  most  certainly,  possess  an  advantage  of  im- 
mense value  ;  having  no  coarse  fibres,  the  worm 
consumes  the  whole  of  it,  leaving  no  offal  what- 
ever, whereas  the  leaves  of  the  White  Mulber- 
ry have  at  least  one-third,  in  stems  and  gross  fi- 
bres, that  cannot  be  consumed ;  which  is,  of  itself, 
equal  to  one-third  the  labor  in  the  gathering   ol 
the  leaves  and  feeding  the  worms — an  object  o! 
great  moment,  as  we  have  before  remarked,  with 
those  extensively  engaged  in  the  culture  :  but  it  is 
said  that  wortns  fed  upon  the  leaves  of  the  Mo- 
rus Multicaulis  afford  a  better  silk  than  those 
fed  on  the  leaves  of  the  Morus  Alba,  the  White 
Italian;  that   it   ia  more  elastic  and    of  richer 
texture ;  if  these  be  facts,  and  we  do  not  pretent 
to  gainsay  them,  they  are  strong :  and  indeed,  when 
taken  in  connection  with  the    saving-   in  food 
insurmountable  arguments  in  its  favor.     We  hav 
however  seen  Italian  silk  made  from  worms  fe 
from  the  White  Italian  Mulberry,  incomparablj 
superior  to  any  China  silk  we  ever  beheld;  in 
saying    this,   we    would  not  wish  to  be  under 
stood  as  in  the  least  desiring  to  undervalue    th 
intrinsic  excellence  of  the  Morus  Multicaulis 
for  our  opinion  is  most  decidedly  in  its  favor.     I 
it  can  be  made  to  accommodate  itself  to  our  se 
vere  frosts,  there  can  be  no  two  opinions  enter 
tained  as  to  its  superiority  ;  and  that  it  may  b 
so  accommodated,  we  are  equally  sanguine.  Th 
nursery  of  which  we  have  just  been  speaking  a 
containing  two  thousand  trees,  which  were  frost 
ed  to  the  earth  last  winter,  is  situated  in  a  ric 


sandy-loam    bottom,   too    moistr   we  think,  for 
the  more  delicate  exotics,  and  this  we  believe, 
is  one  great  reason  why  the  ravages  of  the  frost 
were  so  universal  with  this  interesting  Chinese 
stranger.  And  if  \ve  are  right  in  our  conjecture,a 
remedy  is  of  easy  application  : — nothing  more  be- 
ing necessary  than  the  transplantation  of  all  Mul- 
berry orchards  upon  hi'l  sides,well  protected  from- 
the  bleak  winds  of  winter,  either  by  woods  or 
board  fences — and  we  need  scarcely  remark, that 
the  soil  should  be  dry,  sandy,  stony,  or  gravelly — 
of  this,  however,  we  shall  speak  more  fully  in  ano- 
ther place.     While  we  aie  upon  this   particular 
branch  of  our  subject,  we  would  suggest  that  all 
ifficulties  with  respect  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
Morus  Multicaulis  might  be  obviated  by  plant- 
ng  a  portion  of  each  orchard  with  the   White 
la/ian  Mulberry.     Thus  would   each  culturist 
ie  ensured  in  a  supply  of  leaves  from  the  latter 
under  any   adverse  circumstances  which  might 
>ccur.     The  probability  is,  from  all  past  experi- 
nce,  and  particularly  during  the  last  winter,  that 
he  roots  of  the  Morus  Multicaulis  will  survive 
any  destruction  of  its  branches  from  cold,  and 
as  it  springs  up  freely  in  the  spring,  it  would  on- 
y  be  necessary  to  secure  a  supply  of  leaves  un- 
il  the  new  shoots  would  be  sufficiently  matured 
o  be  deprived  of  their  foliage,  without  endan- 
gering the  roots.     This  could  be  readily  effected 
through  hedges  of  the  Morus  Alba.     By  such  an 
arrangement,   all    apprehension   of  evil    conse 
qnences  from  the  destruction  of  the  former  would 
be  obviated.     If  the  Morus  Multicauhs   were 
not  killed,  the  early,  as  well  as  subsequent  feed- 
ing could  be  carried  on  from  it ;  if  killed,  the  Mo- 
rus Alba  would  come  into  supply  its  place  un- 
til the  new  vegetation  of  the  Chinese  justified 
food  being  gatherered  from  it,  so  that,  in  either 
event,  the  supply   of  leaves   would  be  secured. 
We  might  here  be  content;  but  in  order  that 
every  possible  light  may  be  thrown  upon    this 
part  of  the  question,  one,  indeed,  involving  so  ma- 
ny considerations  of  moment  to  the  future  pros- 
perity of  the  culture,  we  copy  the  following  ar- 
ticle entire  from  Kendrick's  Orchardist — edition 
1833,  page  2*6  to  291. 

MORUS  MULTICAUI.IS. 

A  tree  of  ornament  from  China — A  fruit  tree 
— a  new  and  most  valuable  species  of  Mulberry, 
for  the  nourishment  of  the  silk  worm,  which  is 
represented,  as  possessing  such  decided  superiori- 
ty over  all  others,  as  to  be  speedily  substituted 
for  them  in  every  region  of  the  globe. 

This  tree  has  not  yet  to  my  knowledge  borne 
fruit  in  America.  It  was  even  unknown  in  Eu- 
rope as  a  fruit  tree,  till  in  1830,  for  the  first  time, 
it  produced  its  fruit  in  France.  The  fruit,  ac- 
cording to  M.  Audibert,  was  produced  in  great  a- 
bundance ;  it  was  long,  black,  and  of  sufficiently 
beautiful  appearance ;  its  taste  very  good,  having 
a  taste  intermediate  between  the  red  and  black 


mulberry.  The  tree  is  very  vigorous  and  upright ' 
in  its  growth.  The  leaves,  in  a  light,  friable, 
rich,  and  humid  soil,  are  large  and  cordiform,  but 
in  a  dry  and  arid  soil,  they  are  of  less  size,  elipti- 
cal,  and  without  the  heart-shaped  indentation ; 
their  breadth  is  stated  to  be  six  inches,  and  their 
length  eight;  but  in  rich  soils  they  are  sometimes 
eight  inches  in  breadth,  and  ten  in  length,  or 
even  more.  They  are  curled  or  convex  on  their 
surface,  of  a  deep  shining  green,  and  eminently 
beautiful. 

Some  account  of  this  plant  so  lately  introduced 
to  Frajxce  and  to  Europe,  is  contained  in  the  Silk 
Culturist,  No.  2,  a  valuable  work  published  by 
Dr.  Felix  Pascalis,  of  N.  Y.  It  is  contained  in  a 
letter  to  the  author  from  Havre,  and  is  as  follows. 
"  Samuel  Perrottet,  a  member  of  the  Linnrcan 
Society  of  Paris,  employed  by  Government  as  a 
travelling  Botanist,  returned  to  this  port  after  a 
voyage  of  thirty-four  months.  He  brought  with 
him  eighty-four  boxes  of  various  dimensions, 
containing  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  species  ol 
living  plants,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  and 
thirty-four  individuals.  All  these  productions 
had  been  procured  in  the  seas  of  Asia,  or  gather- 
ed on  the  coast,  or  in  the  lands  of  Cayenne.  From 
the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  there 
had  never  before  been  so  vast  an  importation 
one  so  extensive  in  number,  for  rare  genera,  spe- 
cies, and  families,  and  vegetable  productions,  or 
their  seeds.  All  of  them  passed  under  my  exam- 
ination, and  they  rather  appeared  to  have  come 
out  of  a  green  house  than  from  a  ship. 

"  In  this  immense  collection   was  the  Morus 
Multicaulis,  thus  called  by  Perrottet ;  for  the  firs 
lime  ascertained  to  be  the  real  Chinese  Mulberry 
Morus  Jllba  Sinensis,  of  which  every  silk  grow 
er  and  culturist  should  endeavor  to  multiply  the 
species.     It  has  been  deposited  in  the  Royal  Gar 
den.     Monsieur  Perrottet  says  that  it  grows  will 
many  shoots  from  the  roots,  with  tender  stems 
and  large  foliage,  of  a  much  more  nourishing  na 
ture  than  the  European  mulberry. 

"  Chinese  inhabitants  assured  him,  that  to  thi 
tree,  the  disciples  of  Confucius  are  indebted  fo 
the  prosperity  and  solidity  of  their  empire. 

"The  Morus  Multicaulis  is  already  propaga 
ting  in  France  and  probably  will  be  substitute 
and  preferred  to  all  the  other  varieties.  Amonj 
the  other  qualities  of  the  plant,  it  is  affirmed  i 
China,  that  a  less  quantity  of  this  foliage  is  re 
quired  for  the  precious  insects,  than  of  that  whici 
we  are  obliged  to  provide  for  them.  Monsieur  P 
has  left  the  tree  in  Cayenne,  where  it  is  now 
flourishing  in  dry  and  barren  soils." 

Remarks  on  the  culture  and  uses  of  the  Moru 
Multicaulis   by    M.    Perrottet,   Agricultura 
Botanist,  and    Traveller  of  the  Marine   an 
Colonies — From  the  '  Jlnnals  of  Fromont.'' 
"The  Morus  Mullicaulis,  which  we  notice 


for  the   first  time   in  the  Jlnnales  de  la   Societie 
"innenne   de   Paris  for    1824,  appears  to  have 
riginated  in  the  elevated  regions  of  China;  from 

hence  it  has  been  disseminated   throughout  the 
ow  plains  near  the  sea  shore.     It  is  believed  it  is 
ultivated  in  all    parts  of  that  vast  empire,  where 
culture   of  the    silk  worms  is  an  object   of 
ommercial  importance.     From  Canton  it  was  in- 
roduced  into   Manilla  and  all  the   Islands  in  the 
Asiatic  Archipelago,  where  it  was  only  cultivated 
or  ornamenting  gardens.     The  Chinese  are  en- 
itled  to  the  credit  of  this  introduction,  who  in 
emigrating  from  their  country  have  from  motives 

f  industry,  endeavored  to  multiply  it,  that  they 
might  render  it  useful  to  them,  in  the  new  coun- 
ry  of  their  adoption. 

"The  fortunate  discovery  of  this  precious  shrub 
occurred  in  the  garden  of  a  Chinese  cultivator  at 
Manilla,  who,  after  having  informed  us  of  its  pro- 
jerties,  and  the  important  purpose  for  which  it 
was  used  in  his  own  country,  yielded  to  our  so- 

icitations  and  sold  us  two  bushels  for  ten  Spanish 
piastres,  assuring  us  that  he  had  introduced  it  in- 
to Manilla,  where  it  had  been  considerably  extend- 
ed. 

"In  August  we  brought  it  from  Manilla,  the 
capital  of  the  Phillipine  Islands,  and  first  intro- 
duced it  into  the  Isle  of  Bourbon,  from  thence  in- 
to Cayenne  and  France.  At  a  later  period  it  was 
sent  from  Cayenne  to  Martinique,and  from  France 
to  Guadaloupe,  and  also  to  Senegal,  where  it  has 
been  considerably  multiplied.  The  numerous 
plants  which  are  already  disseminated  in  the  di- 
vers climates  of  Africa,  America,  and  Europe,  have 
been  all  produced  from  the  two  individuals,  which 
we  procured  at  Manilla. 

*  *  *  "  Among  the  number  of  mulberries  now 
cultivated  by  the  Chinese,  for  the  education  of 
silk  worms,  the  Morus  Multicaulis  appears  to  be 
the  most  esteemed  of  all,  not  only  for  the  facility 
with   which  it  is  propagated  and  grows,  but  still 
more  for  the  essentially  nutritive  property  which 
the  leaves  possess.     We  have  been  enabled  to 
verify  this  important  fact  during  the  five  years 
which  we  passed  in  Senegal.  *  *    *  The  charac- 
ters which  essentially  distinguish   this  mulberry 
from  the  other  varieties,  are  those  which   result, 
1st,  from    the   remarkable    property    which    the 
roots  possess  of  throwing  up  numerous  small  flexi- 
ble stalks,  without  forming  a  principal  trunk ;  2d, 
from    the    remarkable    development    which    the 
thin,  tender,  and  soft  leaves  speedily  acquire,  and 
the  promptitude  with   which   they  are  renewed  ; 
*  *  *  and  4th,  and  lastly,  from  the  extraordinary 
facility  with  which  the  stalks  and  branches  strike 
root,  as  cuttings,  without  particular  care,  even  be- 
fore they  have  acquired  a  ligneous  consistence, 

*  *  *  "Besides  the  advantages  which  we  hare 
already  named,  we  may  still  add,  that  they  are  ad- 
mirably calculated  for  forming  regular  plantations-, 


it  Hot  being  natural  to  grow  tall  or  form  any 
trunk  properly  so  called  ;  they  can  be  placed  very 
near  without  an  injurious  effect;  and  by  heading 
down  the  stalks  annually  near  the  ground,  a  rich 
vegetation  is  produced,  with  a  complete  develop- 
ment of  vigorous  branches  and  leaves  ;  and  final- 
ly it  is  easy  to  multiply  them  by  thousands  from 
the  roots  in  the  course  of  a  year,  and  to  form  vast 
and  regular  plantations  of  them  the  second.  But 
a  few  years  then  are  sufficient  to  obtain  consider- 
able fields  of  them  in  full  vigor,  sufficient  to  sup- 
port an  immense  quantity  of  silk  worms,  and  that 
•with  the  greatest  facility,  as  they  are  reproduced 
in  a  manner  almost  indefinite.  *  *  *  Regular 
plantations  of  it  can  be  formed  without  difficulty, 
by  planting  the  shrubs  at  a  distance  of  six  or 
eight  feet  from  each  other,  a  space  sufficient  for 
the  extension  of  the  branches,  to  facilitate  the 
culture  and  for  collecting  the  leaves.  This  last 
operation  is  so  much  facilitated  by  the  flexibili- 
ty of  the  stalks,  that  a  child  is  sufficient  for 
furnishing  the  food  of  a  large  establishment  of 
silk  worms. 

CLIMATE,  SOIL,  &c. — *  *  *  "This  species 
will  be  readily  acclimated  in  Europe ;  because  it 
originated  in  an  analogous  region  as  to  climate,  to 
that  which  we  inhabit.  It  appears  not  to  suffer 
from  the  excessive  cold  of  the  northern,  or  the  in- 
tense heat  of  the  intertropical  regions ;  for  the 
plants  deposited  in  the  gardens  of  the  govern- 
ment at  Cayenne,  acquired  in  the  space  of  eight 
months  a  truly  remarkable  development,  and  at 
the  time  of  our  departure  from  that  colony,  in 
June,  1328,  they  were  clothed  with  leaves  of  an 
extraordinary  size.  Those  also  which  we  culti- 
vated at  Senegal,  although  situated  under  a  dry 
and  scorching  sun,  and  planted  in  an  arid  soil,  of- 
fered an  appearance  sufficiently  satisfactory,  but 
they  had  acquired  less  development  in  all  respects, 
than  those  which  have  vegetated  under  the  humid 
climate  of  Guiana.  It  appears  expedient  then, 
that  plantations  of  this  mulberry  should  be  made 
upon  a  humid  rather  than  a  dry  soil,  to  obtain  in 
all  respects  a  satisfactory  result.* 

*  *  *  *  "  Besides,  this  mulberry  braves  the 
most  vigorous  winters.  We  saw  on  our  arrival 
atHavre,  in  July  last,  in  the  field  of  M.  A.  Eyries, 
plants,  which  had  endured,  in  the  open  ground, 
the  winter  of  1828,  and  which  appeared  vigorous 
and  beautiful."— Thus  far  M.  Perrottet. 

On  this  last  and  other  points,  let  us  now  hear 
the  testimony  of  M.  Poiteau  in  the  AnnaUs 
d?  Horticulture,  1830. 

"By  the  information  which  we  receive  from  all 
quarters,  it  appears,  that  this  mulberry  is  destined 
to  replace  the  common  white  mulberry,  every- 
where, for  nourishing  silk  worms ;  its  property  of 

*[Thisis  contrary  to  the  present  experience  so 
far  as  the  quality  of  the  silk  is  concerned. — Ed. 
Farmer  and  Gardener.] 


continuing  low  and  bushy,  so  that  the  leaves  can 
always  be  gathered  without  a  ladder;  and  the 
large  size,  abundance,  and  tenderness  of  the  leaves 
cannot  fail  to  give  it  a  decided  preference.  It  has 
been  sufficiently  ascertained,  that  they  are  eaten 
with  avidity  by  the  silk  worms,  and  that  the  silk 
which  they  form  is  of  the  first  quality.  This 
mulberry  has  not  suffered  in  the  least  from  the 
rigors  of  the  last  severe  winter. 

"The  zealous  traveller,  who  has  given  to 
France,  America,  and  Africa,  this  precious  plant, 
has  acquired  a  just  claim  to  public  gratitude,  and 
it  is  not  only  easy,  but  proper,  to  give  him  at  this 
time  a  proof  of  it,  by  affixing  his  name  to  the 
tree  which  has  given  him  celebrity,  and  which 
will  contribute  so  much  to  the  prosperity  of 
French  industry."  *  *  *  Note  to  the  Perrottet 
Mulberry,  (Morus  Multicaulis.} 

M.  Audibert  is  also  decidedly  of  the  opinion 
that  the  best  mode  of  cultivating  the  Morus  Mul- 
ticaulis, for  the  support  of  silk  worms,  is  in  hed- 
ges with  low  stock.  M.  Barthere  of  Toulous  in 
the  South  of  France,  who  has  considerably  ex- 
tended their  cultivation,  fully  coincides  in  the 
same  opinion ;  and  is  confident  that  in  grounds 
and  vineyards  which  could  hardly  give  two  per 
cent,  this  tree  will  now  ensure  ten  per  cent. 

This  tree,  according  to  M.  Perrottet  and  Dr. 
Deslongchamps,  is  easily  propagated  either  by 
layers,  by  cuttings,  or  even  by  cuttings  of  a  single 
eye,  placed  beneath  the  surface  and  shaded  from 
the  noonday  sun. 

The  experiments  instituted  at  Paris  by  Dr.  Des- 
longchamps, have  confirmed  all  that  had  been  pre- 
viously asserted  respecting  the  quality  of  the  silk 
produced  by  this  plant ;  he  has  further  stated  that 
the  cocoons,  made  by  the  worms  fed  only  on  this 
plant,  are  even  rather  heavier. 

Dr.  Felix  Pascalis  in  an  article  in  Silliman's 
Journal  of  Science  for  July,  1830,  after  informing 
us  that  in  the  preceding  March  he  had  received 
two  plants  of  this  mulberry  from  France,  has  ad- 
ded— "After  the  discovery  of  this  plant,  a  doubt 
no  longer  exists,  that  two  crops  of  silk  may  be 
raised  in  a  single  season." 

At  Madam  Parmentier's  Horticultural  establish- 
ment, two  crops  of  silk  were  produced  in  the 
summer  of  1832.  The  first  were  fed  promiscu- 
ously on  the  Morus  Multicaulis,  Morus  Mba, 
and  other  mulberries.  The  cocoons  thus  produc- 
ed were  about  two-thirds  white  and  the  remain- 
der of  an  orange  color.  A  suitable  portion  of 
these  cocoons  were  collected  for  seed,  having  no 
regard  to  color: — These  being  subjected  to  the 
hatching  process,  produced  a  second  crop  the 
30th  July.  These  last  were  fed  exclusively  on 
the  Morus  Multicaulis  :  they  passed  through  the 
different  stages  of  their  larva  existence  in  the  short 
space  of  26  days.  The  cocoons  which  were  ob- 
tained from  this  second  crop  were  of  a  much  lar- 
ger size  than  those  of  the  first  crop,  but  what  is  of 


more  consequence  they  were  of  the  whiteness  of\  from  the  inconvenience  of  the  hot  season. 

snow,  and  have  a  most   beautiful  shining  appear-    ™rL:'~    »*-«—     »«•-"- — 

ance.     (See  New  England  Farmer,  vol.  xi.  No.  ii.) 

At  Madam  Parmentier's  in  1831,  I  witnessed  the 

silk  worms  feeding  with  avidity  on  the  leaves  of 

the  Morus  MuUicaulis,  and   was  informed    that 

they  had  left  eleven  other  species  of  mulberries  to 

feed  on  this.     At  that  place  we  are  also  informed, 

the  Morus  MuUicaulis  has  withstood   the  rigors 

of  the  last  six  winters,  uninjured  and  unprotected. 

Although  being  possessed  of  an  active  and  pro- 
longed vegetation,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the 

unripened  wood  of  the  tender  tips,  should  always 

escape. 

I  introduced  this  plant  to  Massachusetts  in  the 

spring  of  1831,  from   the  Messrs.  Prince  of  the 

Linnaean  Botanic  Garden,  Flushing ;  I  also  receiv- 
ed plants  of  the  same  from  Madame  Parmentier's 

of  Brooklyn,  L.  I.  and  I  have  also  received  them 

from  France  from  M.  Andre  Michaux,  author  of 

the  American  Sylva." 

Having  dwelt  so  copiously  upon  the  Morus 

MuUicaulis,  it  is  but  fair  that  we  should  speak  a 

little  in  detail  upon  the  Morus   Alba,  as  that 

must,  for  some  years  yet,  form  the  great  reliance 

for  food  for  the  worm. 

The  White,  Italian  Mulberry,  or  the  Morus 

•fllba,  of  Linnaeus,  is  a  native  of  Asia,  and  was 
introduced  into  Italy,  by  some  of  the  survivors  of 
the  last  crusade.  Oliver  de  Serres  relates 
that  the  French  who  accompanied  Charles  the 
eighth,  in  his  invasion  of  Italy,  in  1494,  being 
struck  with  the  abundance  of  the  trees  in  that 
country,  and  with  the  profit  derived  from  the 
culture  of  silk,  caused  it  to  be  introduced  into 
France.  It  is  mentioned  as  a  very  singular  in- 
stance of  the  longevity  of  this  tree,  that  in  1802, 
Faugas  de  Saint  Fond,  saw  the  original  one, 
around  which  M.  Lachaux,  to  evince  his  re- 
spect for  this  monument  of  agriculture,  and  pa- 
rent of  the  White  Mulberry  trees  in  France, 
had  built  a  wall,  there  are  several  species  of  this 
tree,  and  numerous  varieties,  the  result  of  culti- 
vation, soil,  climate  and  the  play  of  nature.  The 
forms  of  the  leaves  are  extremely  variable.  Mr. 
Jludibert  an  experienced  cultivator  in  France, 


The 

White  Italian  Mulberry,  moreover,  not  only 
grows  more  rapidly  but  has  a  more  abundant  fo- 
liage, and  the  leaves  are  more  delicate  and  more 
nutritive ;  whence  the  silk  becomes  handsomer 
and  of  better  quality.  But  there  is  a  considera- 
ble difference  in  the  quality  of  White  Mulberry 
trees  Count  Dandolo,  the  great  silk  rearer  of 
Italy,  considers  those  best  that  grow  in  Lombardy, 
under  the  name  of  Folia  Giazzola,  and  Folia 
Doppia,  the  leaf  of  which  contains  five  different 
substances:  1st,  the  fibrous  substance;  2d,  the 
coloring  matter;  3d,  water;  4th,  the  saccharine 
substance  $  and  5th,  the  resinous  substance. 
The  saccharine  matter  is  the  most  essential  part 
in  the  nourishment  of  the  silk  worm. 

As  botanists  place  the  White  Mulberry  tree  in 
the  class  of  dioecious  plants,  or  such  as  have  bar- 
ren or  male  flowers  on  one  individual,  and  fer- 
tile or  female  ones  on  another  of  the  same  spe- 
cies, it  is  thought  by  some  that  it  would  be  con- 
venient to  plant  exclusively,  male  Mulberries, 
which  they  say  afford  the  advantage  that,  not  on- 
ly on  stripping  them,  the  berries  do  not  embarrass 
the  operation,  or  cause  a  diminution  of  its  pro- 
duct; but  that  the  worms  in  their  last  age,  are 
not  exppsed  to  be  fed  on  leaves  afFectcd  by  the 
glutinous  substance  of  the  berries,  which  would 
injure  their  health.  Moreover  the  male  trees 
keep  for  their  foliage  all  their  juices ;  whence 
their  leaves  are  in  greater  quantity,  and  of  a  bet- 
ter quality ;  we,  however,  believe  that  there  is 
more  fancy, — more  theoretical  pride — than  well 
grounded  opinion  in  this,  and  therefore  reject  it, 
resting  under  the  firm  conviction  that  no  injury 
whatever  can  result  from  the  presence  of  fe- 
males among  the  males  of  the  tribe* 

SOIL    AND     SITUATION. 

The  nurseries,  as  well  as  the  large  and  small 
Mulberry  plantations,  require  a  sunny  exposure, 
and  spots  well  sheltered  against  strong  cold  winds. 
Therefore,  declivities,  or  hill  sides,  descending 
towards  the  east  or  southeast  and  secured  by 
woods  or  groves,  are  proper;  as  also,  all  spots 
protected  by  artificial  plantations  and  buildings. 


says,  ll  that  the  same  tree  will  have  leaves  divi- 
ded into  several  lobes,  when  young,  and,  when 
it  becomes  old,  they  will  be  entire.  Others  have 
the  second  crop  of  leaves  differently  formed 
from  the  first ;  some  again  have  entire  leaves 
in  the  spring,  and  lobed  leaves  in  the  autumn. 
Hence  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  assign  positive 
characters  to  the  different  varieties,  particularly 
when  they  shew  no  diversity  in  appearance,  ex- 
cept in  the  shapes  of  the  leaves.  Its  superiority 
over  every  other  variety  of  the  Mulberry  excep 
the  Morus  MuUicaulis,  consists  in  this :  It 
cloathed  with  leaves  fifteen  or  twenty  days  ear 
Her  than  the  others — the  silk  worms,  therefore 


come  quicker 
4 


to  maturity   and    are   preservec 


The  trees  should  never  be  planted  in  marshy 
or  low  ground  ;  1st,  because  they  would  be  more 
exposed  than  on  elevated  situations  to  the  inju- 
rious influence  of  cold  and  frosts,  and  2dly,  be- 
cause worms  fed  from  leaves  gathered  from  trees 
in  such  situations,  owing  to  the  superabundance 
of  aqueous  matter  in  them,  do  not  yield  silk  ei- 
ther as  lustrous  or  tenacious,  and  3dly,  from  the 
absence  of  saccharine  matter,  the  worms  are  not 
so  healthful,  nor  do  they  give  as  rruch  silk. 
Next  to  the  soil  described,  a  calcareous  sandy 
clay  is  to  be  preferred.  A  heavy  clay,  or  fenny, 
marshy  earth,  are  especially  unsuitable,  because 
in  such  situations  the  bark  becomes  covered  with 
moss,  and  the  trees  are  slow  in  their  growth,  lia- 
ble to  diseases  of  the  heart,  and  to  be  killed  by 


the  intense  cold  of  winter,  when  the  plant  is 
young,  and  before  its  exterior  coating  and  wood 
becomes  hardened. 

A  single  remark  with  respect  to  the  soil  will 
be  sufficient.  If  it  be  not  in  good  tilth,  it  should 
he  manured  in  the  hole,  if  in  standard  trees,  or 
inthedrill  if  in  hedge  rows,  with  acompost  com- 
piised  of  one-eighth  lime,  three-eighths  mould  or 
decomposed  leaves  from  the  woods,  one-fourth 
stable  manure,  half  rotted,  and  the  remaining 
fourth,  leached  ashes,  to  be  prepared  in  a  heap, 
and  suffered  to  remain  to  mellow  three  or  four 
months,  to  be  turned  up  and  mixed  two  or  three 
times  in  the  course  of  the  process.  If  after  the 
young  trees  should  be  set  out,  a  long  continued 
drought  should  occur,  they  should  be  watered 
two  or  three  times  a  week. 

VARIETIES    OF    THE    WHITE    MULBERRY. 

The  white  Mulberry  is  a  tree  not  known  by  its 
fruit.  Two  varieties  bear  white  berries,  one  red 
and  another  black,  and  trees  have  been  known 
to  bear  different  kinds  of  fruit  on  the  same  tree. 

METHOD     OF      SAVING    SEED- 

As  the  fruit  ripens,  the  tree  should  be  shaken 
every  morning,  and  the  fruit  that  falls  gathered 
with  that  which  may  have  fallen  of  itself.  Put  the 
fruit  into  a  tub  and  press  and  rub  it  till  the  ber- 
ries are  completely  worked  into  a  common  mass. 
They  should  then  be  washed  in  water  until  the 
pulp  is  completely  separated  from  the  seed.  Du- 
ring the  process  of  washing,  the  water  must  be 
repeatedly  changed,  and  in  pouring  off  the  dirty 
water,  the  seed  which  swims  must  be  suffered 
to  escape,  as  it  is  not  good.  When  the  seed  is 
thus  perfectly  cleansed  and  separated,  it  must  be 
spread  on  cloths  in  the  shade  to  dry.  When 
perfectly  dry,  it  should  be  put  up  in  bottles,  well 
corked,  which  should  be  kept  where  they  would 
never  be  exposed  to  light,  air,  or  dampness.  The 
White  Mulberry  seed  are  of  an  obtuse  triangular 
shape,  and  of  a  dull,  dark  yellow  color,  and  ve- 
ry full  of  oil. 

MODE    OF     TESTING     SEED. 

Soak  it  in  hot  water  a  few  hours,  when  the 
seed  which  is  really  good  will  sink  to  the  bottom, 


the  worthless  will  continue  to  float  on  the  sur- 
face, the  latter  must  be  thrown  away  as  it  will 
not  vegetate. 

PREPARATION  OF  SEED  BEDS — TIME  OF  SOWING, 
&C. 

1.  To  sow  an  ounce  of  seed,  prepare  a  bed 
50  feet  long  and  4  feet  broad.  Manure  it  well 
with  a  compost  composed  of  one-third  stable 
manure,  one-third  ashes,  and  one-third  decom- 
posed leaves  from  the  woods,  or  garden  mould  ; 
dig  deep,  pulverise  finely,  and  then  lay  the  bed 
off  in  drills  12  inches  apart,  J  or  \  of  an  inch 
deep;  sow  the  seed  as  thick  as  you  would  that  of 
onions,  or  parsnips;  cover  with  rich  mould,  press 
the  mould  down  gently,  but  sufficiently  to  cause 


the  seed  to  come  into  contact  with  the  earth  ;  and 
should  the  weather  be  dry,  water  the  seed  bed 
every  other  evening,  it  will  assist  in  promoting 
the  germination  of  the  seed  and  the  vigorous 
growth  of  the  plants. 

2.  The  best  lime  for  sowing  the  seed  is  from 
the  1st  of  April  to  the  beginning  of  May;  and, 
indeed,  in  favourable  situations,  if  sown  as  late 
as  the  beginning  of  June,  they  would  succeed  ; 
but  if  sown  in  the  spring,  the  earlier  the  better, 
as  the  plant  will  thereby  have  time  to  grow  to 
such  a  size,  anH  the  bark  become  so  well  har- 
dened, as  to  offer  something  like  a  guaranty  to 
their  getting  over  the-first  winter,  which  is  deci- 
dedly the  most  critical  period  with  the  young 
plants.  If  you  should  determine  upon  sowing  in 
the  spring,  turn  up  your  plant-bed  deeply  the 
preceding  autumn,  and  let  it  remain  in  a  rough 
state,  to  derive  advantage  from  the  fertilizing  ef- 
fects of  the  winter's  frosts,  manure  in  the  spring, 
dig  it  again,  pulverize  and  rake  fine,  lay  off  as 
above  directed  in  drills,  and  sow  your  seed. 

Should  it  not  be  convenient  to  sow  in  the  early 
part  of  the  season,  you  may  do  so  with  perfect 
security  in  the  first  week  of  August ;  your  bed 
to  be  thorough!)  perpared,  by  being  well  man- 
ured, turned  over  with  the  spade  two  or  three 
times,  and  pulverized  and  raked  well.  Whether 
sown  in  the  spring,  or  summer,  the  bed  must  be 
kept  clean  of  weeds,the  ground  to  be  stirred  occa- 
sionally between  the  drills,  receive  a  watering  of  a 
weak  solution  of  soot  and  water,  diluted  barn- 
yard water,  or  soap  suds  once  a  week,  or  fortnight ; 
and,  in  dry  weather,  twice  a  week  in  addition 
with  water,  it  being  important  to  push  the  growth 
of  the  young  plants  the  first  season.  The  wa- 
tering should  not  be  carried  on  after  August. 
By  pursuing  this  nourishing  and  forcing  course, 
you  may  urge  your  plants  so  far  forward  as  to  be 
able  to  transplant  the  stronger  ones  into  nurse- 
ry beds  the  ensuing  spring  after  sowing  the 
seed.  The  fruit  of  the  White  Mulberry  when 
ripe,  if  put  in  the  ground  whole,  in  drills,  will 
vegetate  immediately,  and  if  the  plants  be  kept 
iveeded,  and  treated  as  directed  above,  will  be 


sufficiently  advanced  to  stand  the  winter  with 
the  aid  of  a  slight  covering.  The  first  fruit  of 
this  tree  ripens  about  June. 

The  seed  should  be  soaked  forty-eight  hours 
in  a  solution  of  soot  and  hot  water  before  sow- 
ing, drained  through  a  sieve,  rolled  in  plaster  and 
then  sowed.  An  ounce  will  yield  from  5,000  to 
8,000  plants. 

The  first  winter  the  plant-beds  must  be  cover- 
ed with  long  stable  manure,  leaves  or  straw,  to 
be  confined  with  imall  twigs  of  pine  or  ever- 
green. Matting  will  also  answer  as  a  covering. 
This  should  be  put  on  as  soon  as  the  black  frosts 
come,  and  kept  on  until  the  middle  of  the  ensu- 
ing April ;  to  be  then  removed  cautiously,  so  as 


not  to  expose  the  plants  too  suddenly  to  the  in- 
jurious effects  of  the  bleak  winds,  or  frosts  of  the 
spring.  In  covering  the  plants,  care  must  be  ta- 
ken not  to  smother  them. 

3.  The  second  year,  if  not  removed  before 
the    plants    must  be  removed   into  the  nursery 
rows  or  beds,  which  must  be  prepared  a.s  for  any 
other  crop.  The  ragged  roots  being  taken  off  and 
the  tap  root  shortened,  the  plants  must  be  plant- 
ed out  1-2  inches  apart  in  rows  three  feet  apart, 
the  earth  to  be  well  trodden  around  the  plant. 
As  before,  the  earth'must  be  kept  open  and  free 
from  weeds,  and  be  watered,  as  directed,  in  dry 
seasons. 

4.  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  general  rule,  that 
the  plants  when  a  foot  and  a  ha'f  high  are   (it  to 
be  transplanted  into  the  nursery.     They  should 
be  taken  up  with  great  care,  without  injuring  the 
roots  and   divided  into  classes,  planting  those  of 
a  size  together.      In    transplanting  them,   their 
roots  should  be  a  little  shortened,  and  all  tender 
fibres,  which  may  have  been  injured  by  the  frost, 
should  be  cut  off. 

5.  At  two  years  old,  the  plants  may  be  plant- 
ed out  into  hedges,  at   18  inches  apart  in  rows 
six  feet  wide.     The  ground  should  be  prepared 
as  before  directed,  and  some  good  rich   mould 
put  into  the  holes,to  be  pressed  around  the  plants. 
If  intended  to  be  planted  out  as  standard  trees, 
20  feet  square  apart  would  be  a  good  distance; 
but  in  that  -use,  the  plants  should  not  be  trans- 
planted until  they  are  about  an  inch  in  diameter. 
In  either  case   they   will  require  trimming  and 
topping,  and  if  kept  as  hedges  should  be  treated 
as  other  hedges  are. 

6.  In  every  instance   before  planting  in   hed- 
ges, or   standard  trees,  the  ground  should  pre- 
viously  have  had   the   benefit  of  a   meliorating 
crop,  as  potatoes,  carrots,  parsnips,  &.c.  so  that 
the  soil  may  have  been  put   into  the  best   pos- 
sible condition  for  their  reception,  and  in  setting 
them  out,  the  holes  or  hedge  rows,  in  which  they 
may  be   placed,  should  have  the   advantage   of 
a  good  rich  compost,  such  as  we  have  prescribed 
for  the  seed  beds. 

7.  Standard  tress  should  not  be  placed  out 
permanently  until  they  have  attained  a  height  of 
seven  or  eight  feet. 

8.  Whether  the  Morus  JLlba  or  Moras  Multi- 
caulis  be  planted,  we  believe  that  the  hedge  form 
will  be  found  to  be  the  most  advantageous  as  well 
as  convenient  mode  ;  the  same  given  quantity  of 
land  will  produce   at   least  forty  per  cent,  more 
leaves  planted  in  hedges,  than  in  standard  trees, 
the  labor  of  gathering  leaves  is  fully  one-third 
less,  and  the  vegetation  is   much   quicker,  and 
these  it  will  be  admitted,  are  considerations  of 
primary  moment ;   besides  these  advantages,  the 
trimming  which  the  hedges  will  annually  under- 
go, will  necessarily  impart  a  more  acceptable  and 


delicate  quality  to  their  foliage.  A  few  standard 
trees  should  be  kept  on  every  estate,  and  parti- 
cularly where  situated  in  the  interior,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  up  regular  supplies  of  seed, 
and  of  making  that  of  leaves  doubly  secure: 
plants  destined  for  standard  trees  should  always 
be  selected  from  among  the  handsomest  and 
straightest  plants. 

MANAGEMENT    OP    STANDARD    TREES. 

When  the  plants  are  grown  to  the  size  of  one 
inch  in  diameter,  and  from  7  to  8  feet  high,  they 
are  fit  to  be  planted  out  in  the  field  where  they 
are  permanently  to  remain ;  make  the  holes  suf- 
ficiently large  to  admit  the   roots  without  diffi- 
culty or  crowding.     The   roots  should  be  trim- 
med, then  press  the  earth  around  them  as  it  is 
filled  in  the  hole.     The  transplantation  may  ei- 
ther be  done  in  the  spring  as  soon  as  the  frost 
is  out  of  the  ground,  or  in  autumn  just  after  the 
fall  of  the  leaf.     The   latter  period  is  preferred 
by  Mr.  Smith,  in  order  to  let  "the  small  fibrous 
roots  which  convey  nourishment  to  the  tree  have 
time  to  prepare  for  their  functions  by  the  vegeta- 
ting season  the   next  spring."     In  planting  out 
standard   trees,  leave  all    the    buds   which   the 
young  trees  have  pushed  out  on  the  top,  till  the 
following  spring,  when  none  are   to  be  left  but 
three  or  four  branches  to  form  the  head  of  the 
tree — these  should  be  so  left  as  to   form  a  circle 
round  the  stem,  and  that  the  interior  of  the  tree 
may  be  kept  open,  all  buds  as  they  appear  on  its 
aody  should  be  pinched  off  for  a  few  years.   For 
several  years,  the  head  of  the  young  tree  should 
be  thinned  out,  cutting  off  such  branches  as  cross 
others  or  take  the  lead  of  the  rest;  thus  equili- 
>rium  in  growth,  and  beauty  in  appearance,  will 
be  effected.     Every  spring  the  young  trees  should 
be  dre«sed  two  or  three  feet  around  the  trunk; 
and  stakes  should  also  be  placed  by  each  at  the 
irne  of  planting  to  ensure  straightness,  and  pre- 
rent  the  ill  consequences  of  being  too  muchagi- 
ated  by  the  wind  in  the  early  period  of  their 
growth. 

MANAGEMENT    OF    HEDGES,  &.C. 

Make  your  hedge  rows,  as  before  directed,  6 
eet  wide  apart,  plant  the  young  trees  18  inches 
apart,  taking  care  that  the  two  lowest  buds  be  in 
he  direction  of  the  line,  (which  should  be 
drawn  straight)  the  plant  to  be  cut  down  to 
these  two  buds  about  half  a  foot  above  the 
ground  ;  by  the  ensuing  spring  these  buds  will 
have  become  two  beautiful  branches,  when  one 
of  them  is  to  be  pruned  down  to  one  foot  and 
always  on  one  side  of  the  plant;  the  branches  of 
the  opposite  side  to  be  left  untouched,  but  to  be 
bent  in  the  direction  of  the  hedge  towards  the 
lopped  branches,  and  fastened  to  them  with  wil- 
low withs  so  as  to  form  an  arch.  The  third 
spring  the  plants  will  have  branches  to  form  a 
;e,  when  they  must  be  cut  about  two  feet 


from  the  ground,  leaving  the  branches  below 
that  point  untouched  and  entire.  When  plants 
die,  replace  them  by  layers  from  an  adjoining 
one,  as  the  introduction  of  new  plants  hardly 
ever  succeed.  The  hedge  should  never  be  per- 
mitted to  grow  higher  than  6  feet,  so  as  to  keep 
it  within  a  convenient  height  for  gathering  the 
leaves.  After  the  leaves  have  been  gathered, 
the  hedge  should  be  pruned,  and  particularly  of 
such  branches  as  may  have  been  injured  or  kill- 
ed, as  also  each  spring,  in  the  beginning  of  April, 
the  dead  branches  must  be  pruned  from  the  liv- 
ing wood  with  sharp  hedge  shears,  and  it  should 
be  endeavored  at  these  prunings  to  give  form  to 
the  hedge. 

OF    THE    MORUS    MULTICAULIS. 

What  we  have  said  above  concerning  the 
transplantation  of  the  Mulberry,  has  relation  to 
the  Morus  Jllba  species,  and  we  now  propose  to 
give  some  brief  directions  with  relation  to  the 
space  to  be  occupied  by  the  Morus  Multicaulis, 
both  in  the  hedge  and  standard  tree  form. 

If  in  hedges,  they  should  be  planted  3  feet  a- 

part  in  the  row,  the  rows  to  be  six  feet  asunder. 

If  as  standard  trees,  they  should  be  planted  in 

rows  8  feet  wide,  the  plants  8  feet  apa<  t  in  the 

row. 

This  species  of  the  Mulberry  partakes  more  of 
the  character  of  the  shrub  than  of  that  of  the 
tree,  and,  therefore,  require  less  room  when 
planted  as  standard  tree?,  and  more  in  hedge. 
With  the  difference  as  to  distance  above  de- 
scribed, the  treatment  of  this  tree  must  be  the 
same  as  the  Italian  Mulberry. 

Having  the  subject  of  the  Morus  Multicaulis 
again  before  us,  we  feel  it  due  alike  to  ourself, 
to  the  public,  and  to  Gideon  B.  Smith,  Esq.,  to 
state,  that  in  a  recent  conversation  witli  that 
gentleman,  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  any 
one  desiring  to  enter  into  the  silk  culture  as  a 
business,  must  abandon  every  idea  of  cultivating 
any  other  kind  than  this,  as  from  its  superior  fit- 
ness,in  every  respect,  to  the  feeding  of  the  worms, 
it  would  be  impossible  that  any  one  growing  any 
other  kind  could  compete  with  those  who  fed 
with  it ;  that  as  there  are  no  offal  from  coarse  fi- 
bres, fully  one-third  of  the  labor  of  gathering 
will  be  saved,  there  being  in  the  other  mulberry 
leaves  of  fully  that  amount  of  coarse  matter 
which  is  not  consumed  by  the  worms.  He  says 
further,  that  the  leaves  of  the  Morus  Multicaulis 
yield  a  finer  silk,  more  delicate  in  texture  anc 
brilliant  in  gloss  than  any  other  kind.  Than  th< 
opinion  of  Mr.  Smith,  none  better  need  be  re 
quired,  on  a  matter  where  he  has'had  experienc< 
to  form  that  opinion  upon,  and,  therefore,  we 
should  always  be  cautious  in  differing  on  such 
points  with  him ;  but  when  we  look  at  the  bril 
liant  results  of  the  Italian  culturists  and  manu 
facturers,  we  are  half  tempted  to  believe  tha 


the  Morus  Jllba  makes  good-enough-silk,  though 
n  economy  of  labor  the  Morus  Multicaulis  is 
ncomparably  the  superior  of  all  others. 

DISTANCE    OF    HEDGE    ftOWS. 

With  respect  to  the  distance  between  the 
ledge  rows,  we  are  aware  that  some  are  of  the 
opinion  that  they  should  be  sufficiently  wide  to 
admit  a  cart  to  pass  through  while  the  leaves  are 
)eing  gathered,  we  object  to  it  for  these  reasons, 
irst,  because  the  pressure  from  the  horse  and  cart 
would  so  beat  down  the  intervening  spaces  as  to 
lave  an  injurious  effect  upon  the  vegetation  of 
he  trees,  and  secondly,  because  the  hedge  rows 
would  be  liable  to  be  injured  by  the  horse  and 
cart.  We  think  it  better  that  the  leaves  should 
)e  gathered  in  large  baskets,  to  be  conveyed 
herein  to  the  cart  which  should  be  conveniently 
itationed  for  that  purpose. 

OF    MODES    OF    MULTIPLYING. 

The  means  of  propagating  the  Mulberry  are 
various,  viz: — from  seed  which  is  the  best,  as 
ireviously  described,  by  grafting  and  budding  ; 
"rotn  layers,  cuttings  and  suckers. 

GRAFTING. 

It  may  be  done  on  the  stocks  in  the  nursery,  or 
on  the  small  limbs  of  trees.  The  proper  season 
for  it  is  just  before  the  leaves  begin  to  open  in 
spring.  The  head  of  the  stock  must  be  cut  off 
sloping,  and  a  slit  made  sloping  the  opposite  way, 
deep  enough  to  receive  the  scion,  which  should 
be  cut  like  a  wedge,  with  the  outside  thicker 
than  the  inner.  The  rind  of  the  scion  must  ex- 
actly join  the  rind  of  the  stock.  The  slit  should 
be  opened  by  a  wedge  of  hard  wood;  the  scion 
should  then  be  gently  put  in  its  place  and  the 
stock  closed.  After  this  the  whole  must  be  daub- 
ed round  with  a  mortar  made  of  a  mixture  of 
loam  and  fresh  horse-dung,  so  as  completely  to 
exclude  the  access  of  air;  and  this  mortar  must 
be  surrounded  by  tow  or  old  cloths  to  prevent  it 
from  being  washed  away.  The  scion  should  be 
covered  nearly  to  the  top  with  this  mortar,  and  it 
should  also  extend  two  or  threeinches  downwards 
round  the  stock.  In  place  of  this  mortar,  For- 
syth  recommends  a  plaister  made  of  pitch,  tur- 
pentine and  beeswax. 

BUDDING. 

Provide  yourself  with  a  sharp  knife,  with  a  fiat 
thin  haft,  and  some  bass-matting,  or  corn  husk 
strings;  let  these  be  soaked  and  in  readiness. 
Then  select  a  smooth  part  of  the  stock  as  high  as 
you  intend  budding :  make  a  horizontal  cut  across 
the  stock  as  deep  as  the  firm  wood,  and  then 
from  the  centre  of  it  make  an  incision  downwards 
about  an  inch  ;  then  take  the  haft  of  your  knife, 
and  raise  the  skin  on  either  side  of  the  incision. 
Then  take  your  knife  and  cut  your  bud,  which 
is  done  in  this  way.  Take  your  knife,  place  it 
about  half  an  inch  below  the  bud,  cut  slightly  in- 
to the  pith  or  wood,  so  as  to  go  below  the  heart 


of  the  bud,  cut  upwards  to  the  same  distance  I 
beyond  the  bud,  then  cut  the  bud  out,  trim  off  the 
leaves,  insert  your  bud  by  raising  the  rind  and  ; 
shoving  it  down  so  as  to  close  both  sides  of  theskin 
on  it,  joining  it  closely  to  the  upper  edge  or  hori- 
zontal cut.     Then  take  your  bass  or  corn  husk  , 
string,  and  bind  it  close  around  every   part,  ex-  i 
cept  over  the  eye  or  bud,  which  is  to  be  carefully 
left  out  and   preserved,  and  continue  it  a  little 
above  the  horizontal  cut,  not  binding  it  too  tight, 
but  sufficiently  so  to  keep  the   parts  close,  ex- 
clude the  air,  sun  and  wet ;  finish  by  making  the 
ligature  fast.     At  the  expiration  of  a  month  loos- 
en the  bandages.     In  the  March  following,  the 
heads  of  all  those  which  have  taken,  must  be  cut 
off  just  above  the  part  where  the  bud  was  insert- 
ed. 

LAYERS. 

Having  dug  the  ground  well  and  made  it  light, 
take  some  of  the  most  flexible  and  free  growing 
shoots,  slit  the  shoot  underneath  a  joint  or  bud, 
up  the  middle,  and  about  an  inch  long,  or  a  little 
better,  according  to  the  size  and  nature  of  tbe 
layer,  forming  a  sort  of  tongue,  laying  the  part  in 
the  earth  and  raising  the  top  upright  so  as  there- 
by to  separate  the  tongue  of  the  slit  from  the  oth- 
er part  and  keep  it  open;  peg  the  shoot  down 
with  a  two  pronged  stick,  leaving  about  6  inch- 
es out  of  the  ground,  in  an  erect  position,  then 
cover  up  with  a  rich  mould,  pressing  down  the 
earth.  The  shoots  should  be  layed  down  in  Ju- 
ly and  August  and  may  be  taken  up  or  cut  off 
the  ensuing  autumn,  or  following  spring,  when 
they  sho  lid  be  planted  out. 

CUTTINGS. 

Cuttings  should  be  taken  off  with  a  sharp  knife 
from,  shoots  of  the  previous   summer's  growth. 
They  should  be  from  6  to  15  inches  in  length, 
and  should,  in  all  cases  where  practicable,  have  a 
portion  of  old  wood  attached  to  the  end  to  be 
put  in  the  ground.     Let  them  be   planted  in  a 
nursery  bed,  well  manured,  in  rows    18  inches 
apart,    the   cuttings    9  inches  asunder.       They 
should  betaken  from  the  tree  between  the  falling 
of  the  leaf  in  the  fall  and  the  swelling  of  the  bud 
in  the  spring.     In  planting,  they  must  be  placed 
two-thirds  their  own  length  in  the  ground,  great 
care  being  taken  to  press  the  ground  well  around 
them.  In  dry  weather  they  must  be  watered  well, 
say  twice  a  week,  be  always  kept  clean  of  weeds 
and  have  the  earth  stirred  two  or  three  times   in 
the  course  of  the  summer  and  spring.     The  cut- 
tings when  taken  from  the  tree  should  be  wrap 
ped  up  in  a  matting,  or  put  away  in  dry  sand  in  a 
dark  cellar,  and  kept  until  the  opening  of  spring, 
when  they  should  be  planted  out,  in  somewhat  a 
slanting  position.     If  attended  to  and  forced  by 
occasional  waterings  with  suds  or  the  draining^ 
of  dung,  they  will  be  fit  to  transplant  the  second 
spring  thereafter,  either  in  hedges  or  orchards. 


SUCKERS. 

These  should  be  separated  from  the  parent 
plant  early  in  the  spring,  each  with  some  roots; 
if  of  sufficient  size,  they  may  immediately  be 
placed  in  their  permanent  position;  if  not  let 
them  be  put  into  a  nursery  bed,  two  feet  apart, 
where  they  are  to  remain  until  their  size  indi- 
cates the  propriety  of  the  removal.  They  must 
in  either  case  be  treated  as  seedlings  or  cuttings 
with  respect  to  being  kept  clean  and  watered. 

EARLY  SUPPLY  OF  LEAVES. 

In  order  to  provide  against  every  possible  casu- 
alty from  frosts,  and  to  secure  an  early  supply  of 
leaves  for  the  worms  oil  their  first  hatching,  the 
culturist  should  place  a  hedge  in  some  warm  sit- 
uation, say  a  southern  exposure,  well  protected 
from  the  northern  and  western  winds,  and  in  the 
spring,  early,  they    should  have   a   covering   of 
plaited  straw  or  matting  to  protect  them  from  the 
frost  at  night.     As  the  worms  in  their  first  feed- 
ing consume  but  little,  this  hedge  might  be  lo- 
cated on  a  garden  border,  and  as  it  would  only 
be  used  for  a  few  days,  it  would  during  the  rest 
of  the  season  form  a  very  pretty  ornament  to  the 
garden  :  seed  might  also  be  sown  broadcast  or  in 
drills,  in  a  forcing  border,  or  hot  bed,  to  be  in 
readiness  to   meet  the  first  calls  of  the  worms 
'or  food.     There    are    also    other  resources    to 
which  the  agriculturist  might  resort  for  the  early 
'ceding  of  his  worms,  whenever  their  hatching 
may    anticipate    the  leaf  of  the  Mulberry.     Let- 
tuce, Dandelion,  the  White  Raspberry,  and  the 
dry  leaves  of  the    Mulberry,  of  the  preceding 
year,  reduced  to  powder,  moistened  lightly  with 
water,  have  all  been  found   to  answer  the  pur- 
pose of  temporary  feeding;  but  the  use  of  either 
hould  only  be  adopted  in  the  event  of  the  hatch- 
ing of  the  worms  before  the  appearance  of  the 
Mulberry   leaves,   which    should   be   sedulously 
guarded  against,  by  carefully   keeping  the   eggs 
in  such  a  temperature  and   location  as  will  de* 
lay  the  corning  forth  of  the  worms  until  there  is 
a  regular  supply  of  food  to  sustain  them. 

DIVISION    HEDGES. 

Where  ground  is  an  object,  the  White  Mul- 
berry might  be  made  to  perform  the  place  of  di- 
vision fences  ;  if  planted  along  the  fences  and 
wattled  in  with  the  rails,  in  a  few  years  they 
would  form  not  only  a  very  beautiful  but  a  per- 
manent living-fence,  as  when  they  once  fairly 
take  a  start,  it  is  impossible  to  eradicate  them, 
even  with  the  aid  of  the  grubbing  hoe  and  the 
pick  axe;  for  trees  which  had  been  cut  down  up- 
wards of  twenty  years  have  been  known  to  throw 
up  young  shoots  every  spring,  thus  manifesting 
a  tenacity  for  life  which  render  them  invaluable 
as  live-fences.  It  has  been  ascertained  that  if 
the  Mtilburry  be  protected  from  cattle  for  two  or 
three  years,  all  further  protection  will  be  unne- 
cessary, as  the  biting  off  of  the  young  twigs  in 


30 


spring  by  cattle,  is  ratlicr  a  service  than  a  disser- 
vice.    Hedges  intended  for  the  joint  purpose  of 
fences  and  food,  should  be  trimmed  as  before 
prescribed,  and  be  kept. at  about  6  feet  high. 
PRUNING, 

It  is  said  by  some  that  a  judicious  pruning  of 
standard  Mulberry  trees  should  take  place  every 
three  orfcur  years;  but  we  incline  to  the  belief, 
that  to  render  it  proper,  at  any  time,  the  necessi- 
ty for  removing  unnecessary  limbs  or  branches 
must  exist,  and  of  this,  the  cuiturist  must  i.eces- 
sarily  be  left  to  judge  for  himself.  In  the  spring, 
say  about  the  beginning  of  April,  all  dead  branch- 
es or  limbs  ought  to  be  removed  from  the  living 
wood,  care  being  observed  to  let  the  taking  oli' 
of  th.€  branch  or  limb,  be  done  with  a  sharp  in- 
strument, so  as  to  leave  a  smooth  surface,  which 
should  be  smeared  over  with  a  mixture  of  three- 
fourths  fresh  cow-dung  and  one-fourth  chalk, 
moistened  to  a  proper  consistence. 

It  may  be  assumed,  in  addition  to  the  pruning 
above  recommended,  that  always  after  the  gath- 
ering of  the  leaves  of  the  season  shall  have  been 
done  with,  all  the  branches  that  may  hare  been 
damaged  in  the  operation,  and  all  the  dead  ones, 
ought  ti>  be  lopped  off,  as  well  as  those  the  vege- 
tation of  which  seems  too  low;  and  those  the 
vegetation  of  which  on  the  contrary  is  tooluxuri- 
ent,  ought  to  be  restrained  in  that  propensity 
or  trained  in  an  oblique  direction,  which  is  a 
means  of  restraining- atoo  rapid  growth:  they  ought 
not  to  be  left  to  grow  to  an  excessive  height,  nor 
to  spread  too  far.  The  branches  which  obstruct 
the  development  of  the  head,  or  hang  too  much 
down,  should  be  shortened;  and  lastly  those  that 
have  been  thrust  out  of  their  natural  direction, 
during  the  gathering  of  the  leaves,  ought  to  be 
set  right  again.  As  a  general  remark  it  may  be 
safe  to  add,  that  they  should  be  treated  in  the 
main  as  fruit  trees  are. 

GENERAL  REMARKS, 

AS    TO    THE    MODE    OF     MULTIPLYING. 

We  have  given  succinct  directions  with  respect 
to  the  various  methods  by  which  the  Mulberry 
may  be  propagated ;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  we 
should  prefer  the  growing  of  the  tree  from  seed 
to  any  other  form,  and  in  this  opinion,  we  are 
backed  by  the  experience  of  that  eminent  Italian 
cuiturist,  Count  Dandolo.  He  says: 

"The  leaf  of  the  [seedling]  tree,  contains  the 
proportion  of  both  the  nutritive  and  silky  sub- 
stances. J  have,  says  he,  ascertained  the  follow- 
ing facts: 

1.  That  14^  Ibs.  of  wild  Mulberry  leaves,  will 
produce  a  pound  and  a  half  of  cocoons;  while 
20f  Ibs.  of  the  leaves  of  the  grafted   Mulberry, 
are  required  to  yield  the  same  quantity. 

2.  That  7|  Ibs.  of  cocoons,  proceeding  from 
silk  worms  fed  on  leaves  of  Wild  Mulberry  give 
about  14  oz.  of  very  fine  silk  ;  whilst  generally 


the  same  weight  of  silk  worms,  fed  with  the 
leaves  of  the  grafted  Mulberry,  only  yield  eleven 
or  twelve  ounces  of  silk. 

3.  That  the  silk  worms  fed  on  the  wild  leaves, 
are  always  brisker  and  have  better  appetites. 

The  result  is,  that,  taking  two  trees  of  equal 
age  and  vigor,  the  grafted  tree  yields  50  Ibs.  of 
leaves,  and  the  wild  tree  only  30  Ibs;  the 
weight  of  nutritious  substance  will  be  nearly 
equal  in  each." 

To  this  authority  may  be  added  that  of  M. 
Martleroy,  an  experienced  cuiturist  in  France, 
who  found  that  silk  worms  fed  with  the  leaves 
of  the  seedling  Mulberry  tree,  were  more  healthy, 
vigorous,  and  less  subject  to  diseases,  than  those 
which  are  fed  upon  the  leaves  of  the  grafted 
trees. 

The  term  "  wild  trees"  as  used  by  Count  Dan- 
dolo, must  be  understood,  in  every  instance,  to 
mean  trees  raised  from  the  seed,  being  used  in 
contradistinction  to  those  propagated  by  the  oth- 
er appliances  of  the  trade,  used  in  the  propagation 
of  valuable  plants,  and  in  addition  to  these  rea- 
sons, we  believe  the  seedling  will  be  found  to  be 
more  thrifty,  luxuriant  in  foliage,and  longer  lived. 

Indeed,  with  such  facilities  as  are  possessed 
in  our  country  for  multiplying  the  Mulberry  tree 
from  seed,  no  inducement  exists  to  a  resort  to 
any  of  the  numerous  other  methods  of  propaga- 
tion. It  may,  perhaps,  be  said  that  seed  of  the 
Morus  Multicaulis  cannot  at  present  be  obtain- 
ed in  America,  arid  that  recourse  must,  of  course, 
be  had  to  those  other  means  of  multiplying  that 
species ;  that,  for  the  time  being  is  true  ;  but 
then,  we  think  it  more  than  probable,  that  by  the 
time  the  spring  opens,  seed  will  have  been  pro- 
cured from  the  European  markets,  and  that  in  a 
very  few  years,  seed  will  be  obtained  in  our  own, 
from  trees  already  growing  here. 

AS    TO    THE    TIME     OF     SOWING    SEED. 

In  our  variable  climate,  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  fix  any  thing  like  a  day  for  the  sowing  of  seed 
in  the  spring;  for  it  is  out  of  the  question,  to 
calculate  with  any  d<  gree  of  certainty,  upon  any 
considerable  number  of  successive  days  of  con- 
genial temperature.  Under  such  circumstances, 
all  we  can  do,  is,  to  prescribe  general  rules  of  gov- 
ernment; and  in  the  furtherance  of  our  views, 
we  would  say — that  the  seed  should  be  sown  as 
early  in  the  spring  as  the  ground  and  weather 
will  permit.  Say,  in  winters  and  springs  of  or- 
dinary mildness — in  the  more  southern  state$, 
about  the  Is*  of  April — in  the  western,  from  the 
15th  of  April  to  the  1st  June—\n  the  middle 
states  from  the  1st  of  April  to  the  1st  of  May, 
in  forward  springs — in  backward  springs,  from 
the  15th  of  April  to  the  15th  of  May,  and  in 
the  northern  and  eastern  states,  from  the  1st  of 
May,  forward  during  that  month,  as  may  be  indi- 
cated by  the  weather. 


31 


AS    TO    SOIL. 

It  may  not  be  inopportune  here  to  make  a  few 
general  remarks  upon  the  subject  of  soil.  Al- 
though the  young  trees  for  the  first  year  or  two, 
would  be  evidently  improved  in  their  growth  by 
being  placed  in  rich  dry  loamy  soil,  yet  all  expe- 
rience proves  that  the  plant  after  it  shall  have  at- 
tained a  few  years  of  age,  grows  luxuriantly  in 
every  kind  of  soil.  Mr.  Smith  has  seen  the  tree  in 
every  variety  of  soil,  from  the  poorest  to  the  rich- 
est, and  has  been  able  to  observe  no  other  differ- 
ence in  its  foliage  than  a  more  firm  texture  in 
that  which  grew  on  poor  land,  than  in  that  reared 
on  rich;  and  it  is  uniformly  admitted  that  a  dry, 
stony  or  sandy  soil,  is  preferable  to  a  rich  one. 

Here  a  remark  presents  itself  to  our  mind, 
which  we  feel  bound  in  duty  to  make.  It  is 
known  to  every  intelligent  man,  that  in  each 
county  of  most  of  the  old  states,  there  are  thou- 
sands and  tens  of  thousands  of  acres  of  worn- 
out  lands,  which  are  either  grown  over  with 
scrubby  oaks,  or  pines,  or  covered  with  that  em- 
blem of  a  heart-broken  soil,  the  sedge-grass.  Such 
fields, — barren  and  worthless  as  they  may  seem 
in  the  eye  of  one  who  has  been  used  to  looking  at 
fields  dressed  in  their  brightest  and  rno-t  luxuri- 
ent  array  of  verdure,— may  all  be  converted  into 
sources  of  wealth,  by  being  formed  into  Mulberry 
plantations  or  orchards;  by  simply  manuring 
the  young  plants  in  the  drill,  in  case  of  hedges, 
or'in  the  holes  in  the  event  of  standard  trees, 
with  rich  compost  or  loam,  or  even  by  manuring 
with  half  rotten  stable  or  barn-yard  manure  ;  and 
it  should  be  recollected,  that  when  once  started 
in  this  way,  the  young  Mulberry  will  require 
scarcely  any  thing  further  from  the  hands  of 
the  cultivator,  but  to  keep  it  clean  and  watered, 
as  may  be  seen  in  our  remarks  under  the 
preceding  heads.  All  the  subsequent  manuring 
whether  they  be  planted  in  hedges,  or  in  stand- 
ard trees,  which  they  will  require,  will  more  than 
repay  him  by  their  yield  for  all  the  labour  he 
may  put  upon  them.  A  crop  of  potatoes,  oc- 
casionally, well  manured  between  the  rows,  fol- 
lowed by  clover,  which  can  be  cut  one  year  and 
ploughed  in  the  next,  will  be  all  that  will  be  ne- 
cessary to  secure  to  the  trees,  permanent,  vigor- 
ous growth,  and  plentiful  produce  of  foliage. 

AS    TO    MODE    OF     CULTIVATION. 

As  we  have  before  remarked,  we  prefer  the 
hedge  form,  and  would  keep  no  more  standard 
trees  than  might  be  necessary  to  secure  supplies 
of  seed,  to  meet  contingencies. 

PERIOD    WHEN     LEAVES    MAY     BE    FED. 

The  trees  should  not  be  deprived  of  their 
leaves  until  the  fourth  year,  and  then  they  should 
not  be  entirely  stripped ;  on  the  following  year, 
however,  and  the  succeeding  ones,  they  may  be 
treated  as  old  trees,  and  all  the  leaves  be  taken 
off  when  required  for  the  food  of  worms ;  an 
acre  in  the  hedge  form,  would,  we  believe,  fur- 


nish sufficient  foliage,  after  the  fourth  year,  to 
support  the  number  of  worms  requisite  to  pro- 
duce the  quantity  of  silk,  which  forms  the  basis  of 
the  calculations  to  be  found  under  the  proper  head. 
It  is  best,  however,  not  to  be  too  anxious  in  pull- 
ing them  before  the  plant  has  received  some  so- 
lidity, and  been  placed  in  a  situation  to  withstand 
any  violent  demand  upon  its  powers  of  production, 
as  by  judicious  attention  for  a  year  or  two,  and  a 
proper  consulting  of  the  demands  of  nature,  the 
tree  will  receive  such  an  impetus  as  will  ensure 
to  it  a  long  life  and  luxuriant  foliage. 

Some  of  the  culturists  in  the  eastern  states, 
are  of  opinion  that  leaves  may  be  gathered  at  two 
years  old,  provided  those  near  the  end  of  the 
branches  are  left  and  the  main  stem  be  not 
touched.  Our  opinion  is,  that  such  practice  is 
contrary  to  nature,  and  cannot  be  justified  upon 
any  principles  connected  with  reason  or  a  just 
economy  of  vegetable  life.  "Leaves,"  it  has  been 
very  happily  said,  "bear  the  same  relation  to  trees 
and  plants,  as  the  lungs  to  the  bodies  of  men  and 
animals.  A  leafless  tree  dies  soon ;"  and, 
therefore,  that  "not  more  than  half  of  its  leaves, 
or  at  most  two-thirds  of  them  should  be  strip- 
ped." 

YIELD    OF    FOLIAGE — PROFIT    OF    THE  CULTURE, 

fcfi. 

It  is  impossibe  to  ascertain  with  any  thing  like 
accuracy  the  quantity  of  leaves  which  an  acre 
of  Mulberry  trees  will  yield  ;  but  still  we  can 
approximate  sufficiently  near  to  found  a  calcu- 
lation upon  it.  We  will  here  array  some  of  the 
various  authorities  upon  this  branch  of  the  sub- 
ject. 

1.  It  is   stated  in  the  Memoir  submitted  by 
Mr.  Bailiff  Hout,  of  Manheim,  to  the  Agricultu- 
ral Society  of  the  Grand  Dutchy  of  Baden,  that 
a  White   Mulberry  tree,  20  years  old,  planted  in 
a  proper  soil,  produces  on  an  average,  two  quin- 
tals of  foliage,  (200  Ibs.,)  and  that  seven  quintals, 
700  Ibs.,  are  required  for  40  Ibs.  of  cocoons. 

2.  It  is  computed  by  Mr.  D'Homergue   that 
each  tree  [standard]  at  6  years  of  age  will  yield 
30  Ibs.  of  leaves,  which  he  proposes  should  be  set 
at  6  feet  square  apart,  properly  cultivated  and 
nurtured. 

3.  The  Editor  of  this  Manual,   assumes  the 
following,  it  being  the  best  result   at  which  his 
mind  could  arrive,  after  the  most  careful  exami- 
nation of  various  authorities — that  is,  that  a  tree, 
as  a  standard,  four  years  of  age,  well  cultivated, 
will  yield  20  Ibs.  of  foliage,  that  at  6  years  of 
age   it  will  yield  30  Ibs.,  and  that  if  planted  in 
hedge-form,     an     SLTG   of   land    will    yield    an 
amount  of  leaves  when  six  years  of  age  more  than 
equal  to  the  support  of  540,000  worms,  that  is 
he  believes  that  each  tree  at  4  years,  will  yield 
4  bis.  of  leaves,  and  at  6  years  will  yield  7  Ibs. 
of  leaves,  and  that  its  capacity  to  yield  will  in- 
crease by  the  time  the  hedge  shall  have  attained 


its  twentieth  year,  100  per  cent.,  tint  is,  that  the 
acre  will,  after  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
yield  a  foliage  competent  to  the  sustenance  of 
upwards  of  a  million  of  worms,  and  this  will  not 
be  doubted,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  acre  in 
hedge-form,  six  feet  wide  apart  and  \\  asun- 
der in  the  rows,  will  contain  4,840  plants — as  6 
X  1|  is  equal  to  the  square  of  9,  and  that  being 
divided  into  43,560,  the  number  of  square  feet  in 
an  acre,  gives  4,840,  as  : 
9)43.560 

4,840  No.  plants  on  an  acre  6 
feet  by  1 1. 

Mr.  Frost,  of  Massachusetts,  fed  1,500  worms 
on  75  Ibs.  of  leaves,  which  precisely  corresponds 
with  the  average  of  food  as  laid  down  by  Count 
Von  Hazzi,  of  Munich.  He  pays :. 

On  an  average  twenty  thousand  worms  require 
in  the  1st  period  5  Ibs.  of  leaves 


2d 

3d  « 

4th  " 

5th  " 


15 

46 

139 

795 


Ibs.   1,000 

And  he  observes,  further,  that 

"  Until  lately,  twice  as  much  would  have  been 
consumed  in  Germany,  in  consequence  of  the 
errors  which  attended  the  rearing  of  worms,  their 
feeding,  the  economy  of  the  leaves,"  &c- 

Count  Dandola  estimates  that  about  37  Ibs.  12 
oz.  will  feed  1,000  worrng,  but  we  take  the  larger 
number,  as  we  wish  to  make  a  liberal  allowance 
for  wasteage  and  other  contingences. 

4.  Mr.  Fitch  speaks  of  a  full  grown  tree, 
which  yielded  food  for  worms,  which  made  four 
pounds  of  silk,  and  as  3,000  is  the  general  av- 
erage for  a  pound  of  silk,  there  must  have  been 
12,000  fed  on  this  one  tree. 

Mr.  Fitch  also  states,  that  an  acre  of  full 
grown  trees,  set  one  and  a  half  rods  apart,  will 
produce  40  Ibs.  of  silk. 

4.  Mr.  Tufts  confirms  this  calculation,  but  does 
not  state  the  distance  at  which  the  trees  stood 
from  one  another. 

6.  Mr.  Storrs  says,  that  a  full  grown  tree  will 
feed  6,000  worms,  which  will  produce  one  and  a 
half  pounds  of  silk.     An  acre  of  trees  will  pro- 
duce 60  Ibs.  of  raw  silk  in  one  season. 

7.  Mr.  Smith  states,  that  a  full  grown  tree  will 
feed  5,000  worms. 

8.  Mr.  R.  Falley,  now  of  Ohio,  had  18  Ibs.  of 
silk  from  about   100  trees,  part  of  which  were 
young,  in  Massachusetts," 

9.  It  is  stated  in  the  Columbian   Magazine, 
that  in  the  year    1789,  nearly  four  pounds  were 
produced  from  seven  trees,  and  one  pound  from 
eight  trees,  eight  years  old,  from  the  seed. 

10.  According  to  Count  Dandolo,  it  is  a  cer- 
tain fact,  that,  if  silk  worms  are  well  managed 


21  Ibs.  of  Mulberry  leaves  will  be  sufficient  to 
obtain  a  pound  and  a  half  of  cocoons,  and  that  in 

Dalmatia  he  obtained  a  pound  and  a  half  of  co- 
coons from  15  Ibs.  of  leaves,  which  yielded  a 
pound  and  a  half  of  silk,  and  he  further  affirms 

hat  97J  Ibs.  of  leaves  will  produce  1\  Ibs.  of  co- 
coons. For  the  yield  of  the  trees  we  take  Bai- 

iff  Hout's  estimate,  200  Ibs.  of  leaves  to  the  full 
grown  tree. 

11.  Miss  Rhodes  could  scarcely  support  ten 
thousand  worms  on  the  leaves  of  twelve  large 

rees  in  England. 

12.  According  to  Lambruschini,  100  Ibs.  of 
clear  leaves  will  feed  worms  which  will  produce 
6  Ibs.  of  silk. 

13.  Mr.  Genet,  the  former  French.  Minister  to 
this  country,  in  his  Memoirs  on  the  subject  of 
silk  states,  that"  A  small  hedge  that  will  occupy 

he  twentieth  part  of  an  acre,  being  planted  with 
jushes  not  more  than  three  years  old  will  sup- 
aly  and  accommodate  100.000  worms,  the  pro- 
duce of  which  will  be  thirty  pounds  of  raw  drawn 
silk,  and  if  the  whole  acre  is  planted  in  the  same 
way,  the  produce  will  be  six  hundred  pounds, 
which  if  merely  spun  into  sowing  silk  would 
amount  at  the  present  price  of  American  sewing 
silk  at  Albany,  [then]  three  dollars  per  pound,  to 
"  ,800." 

14.  Mr.  Daniel  Bradley,  of  Marcellus,  New 
York,  estimates  that  an  acre  of  ground  will  yield 
foliage  enough  for  a  million  of  worms,  and  that 
some  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  it  will  support  two 
millions. 

15.  On  the  authority  of  the  Hamilton  County 
(Ohio)   Agricultural  Society,  as  we  have  before 
stated,  it  is  affirmed  that  four  young  ladies  in 
Massachusetts,  gathered  as  many  leaves  off  of  4 
acres   in  1833,  as  fed  worms  which  made  them 
420  Ibs.  of  silk,  besides  attending  to  the  domes- 
tic concerns  of  the  household. 

16.  The  late  Mr.  Parmentier,  of  New  York, 
a  distinguished  Nursery-man  and  Horticulturist, 
stated  that  an  acre  of  Mulberry  trees,  when  full 
grown,  would  yield  foliage  enough  to  feed  worms 
that  would  produce  490  dollars  worth  of  silk. 

REMARKS  UPON    THE  PRECEDING. 

We  have  prepared  in  a  succeeding  page,  a  ta- 
ble, shewing  the  produce  per  acre,  according  to 
the  respective  statements  and  data  of  the  several 
persons  given  under  the  preceding  head,  and  in 
order  that  the  reader  may  understand  the  princi- 
ples upon  which  our  several  calculations  are 
made,  we  will  briefly  explain  each,  as  they  res- 
pectively stand  in  numerical  order. 

No.  1.  Mr.  Hout  states  that  a  tree  20  years 
old  will  yield  200  Ibs.  of  foliage,  and  we  calcu- 
late, as  108  trees,  20  feet  square  apart,  can  stand 
on  an  acre  of  ground,  the  acre  will  yield  21,600 
Ibs.  of  leaves.  Again  he  says,  700  Ibs.  of  leaves 
will  produce  40  Ibs.  of  cocoons,  and,  therefore, 
21,600  Ibs.  will  produce  1234  Ibs/,  then,  as  0 


33 


Ibs.  of  cocoons  are  equal  to  1  Ib.  of  silk,  so  is 
1234  Ibs.  equal  to  137  Ibs. 

No.  2.  This  is  calculated  upon  the  same  prin- 
ciple as  the  first  branch  of  the  above,  with  this 
difference,  that  the  6  feet  square  assumed  by  Mr. 
D'Homergue,  will  give  1210  trees  to  the  acre 
— the  square  of  6  being  36,  that  divided  into 
43,560,  the  number  of  square  feet  contained 
therein,  gives  1210  as  the  quotient. 

No.  3.  Our  own  calculation  is  based  on  a  sim- 
ilar principle. 

No.  4.  Mr.  Fitch's  statements  do  not  accord 
with  each  other,  and  we  have,  therefore,  under- 
taken to  reconcile  their  discrepancies.  In  the 
first  place,  he  speaks  of  having  seen  a.  full  grown 
tree  that  afforded  food  for  worms,  which  made 
4  Ibs.  of  silk :  then  he  tells  us  that  an  acre  of 
full  grown  trees  set  a  rood  and  a  half  apart,  will 
produce  40  Ibs.  of  silk.  Now  as  a  rood  and  a  half 
is  24  feet,  75  trees  can  beset  upon  an  acre,  and 
unless  Mr.  Fitch  has  two  measures  for  his  full 
grown  trees,  he  is  not  consistent  with  himself, 
as,  75  such  full  grown  ones  as  he  first  describes, 
would  yield  300  Ibs.  of  silk,  instead  of  40.  The 
first  tree  he  names  must  have  fed  12,000  worms; 
but  if  we  calculate  that  his  subsequent  ones  are 
competent  to  feed  5,000,  the  most  generally  re- 
ceived number,  the  75  must  have  produced  125 
Ibs.  of  silk.  It  struck  us  however  as  most  fair 
to  take  the  average  of  the  three,  and  we  accord- 
ingly made  our  calculations  upon  that  data. 

No.  5.  Mr.  Tufts  baring  avouched  Mr.  Fitch's 
statement,  we  have  made  the  same  calculations 
for  him. 

No.  6.  Mr.  Storrs  estimates  that  it  will  take 
4,000  worms  to  make  a  pound  of  silk;  this  is 
much  too  high;  2,400,2,542,  2,700  and  3,000 
have  severally  done  so;  but  he  has  even  set  the 
produce  of  an  acre  at  greatly  below  what  his  ex- 
travagant estimate  would  make  it.  We  believe 
we  make  a  liberal  allowance  for  contingencies, 
when  we  assume  3,000  as  the  number  compe- 
tent to  give  a  pound  of  silk  ;  we  have,  therefore, 
found  our  average,  by  calculating  the  pound  at 
that  ratio  ;  at  Mr.  Storr's  4,000,  and  then  at  his 
60  Ibs.  per  acre. 

No.  7.  We  take  Mr.  Smith's  estimate  of  the 
capacity  of  a  full  grown  tree,  and  Mr.  Bradley's 
for  the  measure  of  that  of  the  worms,  and  thus 
arrive  at  the  result  in  the  table. 

No.  8.  We  take  this  as  we  find  it,  though  it  is 
evidently  made  with  too  much  looseness  to  enti- 
tle it  to  the  least  consideration,  and  but  that  we 
wish  to  show  both  sides  of  the  picture,  we  would 
not  give  it. 

No.  9.  Here  too,  there  is  much  looseness; 
but  to  prevent  cavil  have  placed  the  trees  20  feet 
square  apart,  and  thus  find  a  result  much  below 
what  the  data  would  justify. 

No.  10.  Count  Dandolo  gives  data  for  three 
calculations,  and  as  his  great  experience  in  the 


business,  enlightened  mind,  and  mathematical 
exactitude  in  all  that  he  does,  entitle  his  state- 
ments to  every  consideration,  we  have  made  caV 
culations  for  each  and  taken  the  average,  viz  : 
171,  184  and  240=5 9 5  aggregate — average  198|, 
and  we  are  pleased  to  find  that  this  is  17^  Ibs. 
more  than  our  own;  for  from  the  familiarity  of  this 
distinguished  gentleman  with  the  business,  the  ut- 
most reliance  may  be  placed  on  his  estimates;  be- 
cause they  are  the  results  of  actual  practice. 

No.  11.  Miss  Rhodes'  experiments  being 
made  in  England,  where  the  worms  will  not  labor, 
should  not  be  taken  into  the  account ;  for  Eng- 
land has  long  since  abandoned  the  culture,  hav- 
ing given  it  up  as  utterly  impracticable  owing  to 
the  humidity  of  the  climate;— but  as  our  object 
is  truth,  we  give  it  for  what  it  is  worth. 

No.  12.  This  is  a  high-pressure  calculation, 
which  never  has  been,  and,  in  our  opinion,  never 
can  be  realized :  we  are,  therefore,  disposed  to 
think  that,  in  the  translation,  the  word  "silk"  has 
been  substituted  for  that  of  "cocoons" — with 
this  changed  version,  it  would  approach  much 
nearer  practicable  results. 

No.  13.  This  author  is  also  too  high,  in  our 
opinion,  though  he  has  several  good  authorities 
to  back  his  calculations  withal. 

No.  14.  This  a  little  too  sanguine  also. 

No.  15.  This  being  an  actual  result,  is  of 
course,  to  be  taken  for  its  actual  amount,  and 
although  less  than  an  acre  is  capable  of  produc- 
ing by  nearly  a  hundred  per  cent.,  it  is  a  most 
wonderful  product,  all  things  considered. 

No.  16.  This,  in  our  opinion,  is  much  below 
what  can  be  realized  from  an  acre  properly  cul- 
tivated. 


Recapitulation.  —  A  table  shewing  the  probable  produce  per  acre  ac- 
cording to  the  estimates  and  data  furnished  by  the  16  different 
persons  enumerated  therein,  made  upon  the  principles  as  explain- 
ed in  the  preceding  remarks- 

I.S 

I-® 

Value 

°-5 

91 

Names  of  the  Parties. 

lo'lj 

S<5  3  - 

of  Silk 
per 

Amounts. 

il 

a     g.25 

pound. 

i 

Mr.  Bailiff  Hout, 

137 

$* 

$548 

2 

Mr.  D'Homergue, 

242 

4 

968 

S 

The  Editor, 

180 

4 

720 

4 

Mr.  Fitch, 

155 

4 

620 

5 

Mr.  Tufts, 

155 

4 

620 

6 

Mr.  Storrs, 

146 

4 

584 

7 

Mr.  Smith,  as  explained 

180 

4 

720 

8 

Mr.  Falley, 

18 

4 

72 

9 

Columbian  Magazine, 

61 

4 

244 

10 

Count  Dandolo,  aver. 

198 

4 

792 

11 

Miss  Rhodes, 

27 

4 

108 

12 

M.  Lambruschina, 

1296 

4 

5184 

13 

Mr.  Genet, 

666 

4 

2664 

14 

Mr.  Bradley, 

333 

4|      13Sli 

15 

4  Massachusetts'  ladies. 

105 

4 

4-10 

16 

Mr.  Parmentier, 

490 

I                            Totals. 

3989 

T6.08H 

Total  of  all  the  estimates,    $  16,084 

Average  product  per  acre,       $1005 

34 


We  now  propose  to  make  a  few  calculations,  in 
order  that  the  reader  may  more  fully  compre- 
hend the  table  just  given,  and  those  which  may 
follow. 

It  is  computed  by  Mr.  D'Homergue,  that  a  tree 
6  years  old,  will  yield  30  Ibs.  of  foliage,  and  that 
they  may  be  planted  6  feet  square  apart,  which 
would  give   us    1,210   trees   on  an  acre,  there 
being  43,560  square  feet  in  an  acre,  as 
6 
6 

Square  of  6,     36  )  43560  (  1210  No.  of  trees  on 
36  an  acre  at  6  ft.  square  apart. 

75 

72 


36 
36 


Thus  then,  if  there  be  1,210  trees  on  an  acre, 
yielding  30  Ibs.  of  leaves  to  the  tree,  they  will 
give  foliage  enough  to  support  726,000  worms, 
and  as  3,000  cocoons  will  yield  a  pound  of  silk, 
so  will  the  gross  number  give  243  Ibs.,  as  for  ex- 
amples : 

1210  trees  on  an  acre, 

30  Ibs.  foliage  to  each  tree, 

36,300  Ibs.  of  leaves  on  an  acre. 
It  has  been  proved  by  the  actual  experiments 
of  several  silk  culturists,  indeed,  we  might  say, 
by  universal  experience,  that  50  Ibs.  of  leaves 
will  support  1,000  worms  during  the  feeding 
season. 

The  question  may  be  therefore  thus  stated  : 
If  50  Ibs.  of  leaves  feed  1,000  worms,  how 
many  worms  will  36,300  Ibs.  of  leaves  feed. 
If  50—1000—36,300 

1000 


5,0)36,30000,0 

726,000  worms. 
Again,  if  3,000  cocoons  make  a  pound  of  silk, 
how  many  pounds  will  726,000  make. 
If  3,000—1—726,000 
1 

3,000)  726,000 

Amount  raised  on  an  acre  } 
according  to  Mr.  D'Hom-  >  242  Ibs.  of  silk. 


ergue's  statement, 

Gross  value  of  an  acre  in 
silk  culture, 


per  Ib.  present 
selling  price 


We  have  no  doubt,  ourself,  that  this  amount 
might  be  realized,  and  even  mere,  from  an  acre 
in  the  silk  culture,  properly  attended  to,  in  the 
hedge-form,  but  as  we  do  not  wish  to  excite  over 
sanguine  expectations,  we  have  assumed  data 
even  less  than  that  justified  by  the  actual  experi- 
ments, or  rather  practical  business  results,  of 
Count  Dandolo,  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
among  the  Italian  silk  culturists.  The  following 
examples  will  show  the  amounts  produced  by 
that  gentleman,  according  to  his  statement,  as  per 
No.  10  in  the  table. 

There  being  108  trees  on  an  acre,  each  bear- 
ing 200  Ibs.  of  leaves,  the  whole  will  yield  21,- 
600  Ibs.  of  foliage,  as 

108  number  of  trees  on  an  acre 
200  number  of  pounds  per  each  tree 

21,600  Ibs.  the  produce  of  an  acre. 

As  Count  Dandolo  says,  that  21  Ibs.  of  leaves 
will  yield  1 J  Ibs  cocoons,  so  will  21,600  Ibs.  of 
leaves  give  171  Ibs.  of  cocoons;  as 

If  21 \\ 21,600 

2  3 


3     21)  64800 
2)  3035 

1542  Ibs.  of  GO'S. 

As  9  Ibs.  of  cocoons  give  1  Ib.  of  silk,  so  will 
1542  Ibs.  of  cocoons  yield  171  Ibs.  of  silk;  as 
If  9_i_i542 
1 


9) 1542 

171  Ibs.  of  silk. 

Again— Count  Dandolo  has  obtained  li  Ibs. 
of  cocoons  from  15  Ibs.  of  leaves:  this  will  give 
us  the  following  as  the  product  of  an  acre's  cul- 
ture. 

If  15 11 21,600 


3      15)  64800 
2)  4320 

9) 2160 

240 
And  again— he  says,  that  97|  Ibs.  of  leaves 


35 


will  produce  1\  Ibs.  of  cocoons — this  .gives  u 
the  following  result : 


•  '  2 

'  2 

2 

2 

2 

95 

15 

43200 

15 

216000 
43200 

195) 648000 
2) 3323 

9)  166J 


184  Ibs.  of  silk. 


Product  of  the  several  results. 

171 

240 
184 


3)  595 


Average  product  of  an 
acre  according  to 
Count  Dandolo, 


198  Ibs.  of  silk  at 
lb.— $792. 


per 


Our  own  calculation  is  predicated  upon  the 
statement  of  Mr.  Smith,  that  a  full  grown  tree 
will  yield  foliage  enough  for  5,000  worms,  and 
as  108  trees  at  20  feet  square  apart  will  stand  on 
an  acre,  so  will  that  number  of  trees  support 
540,000  worms,  and  as  3,000  will  make  a  pound 
of  silk,  so  will  540,000  make  180  Ibs.,  as  per 
example: 

108  No.  of  trees  on  an  acre, 

5000  No.  of  worms  which    one    full 

grown  tree  will  support, 

8,000)  540,000 


180  Ibs.  of  silk  raised  from  an  acre, 
4 

^720  the  gross  value  of  an  acre. 

We  will  now  state  an  account  current,  by 
which  the  nett  profit  of  an  acre  will  be  clearly 
demonstrated,  and  we  beg  leave  to  make  this  ex- 
planation, that,  with  a  view  of  providing  against 
all  possible  contingencies,  we  have  taxed  540,- 
000  worms  with  the  expense  of  the  labor  of 
1,000,000,  which  will  more  than  cover  all  draw- 
backs arising  from  mortality  among  the  worms,  or 
any  other  unforseen  casualties. 


I  o 

c 


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o   is 


Having  thus  demonstrated  the  practicability  of 
realizing  $565  80  cents,  from  one  acre  in  the 
silk  culture,  well  attended  to,  on  which,  howe- 
ver, an  excess  of  labor  equal  to  46  per  cent.,  or 
on  which  the  cost  of  the  labor  necessary  for 
1,000,000  is  charged  upon  540,000  worms,we  will 
now  prepare  a  table,  shewing  the  nett  profits  on 
from  1  to  10  acres,  the  same  excess  of  labor 
being  charged,  the  object  of  which,  is,  to  cof  er 
any  contingent  demands  which  may  be  made 
upon  the  product  of  the  worms,  whether  by 
mortality  or  otherwise. 


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We  will  now,  for  the  better  satisfaction  of 
the  reader  who  may  desire  to  be  thoroughly  in- 
formed with  respect  to  actual  profits,  without 
the  trouble  of  reducing  the  data  given  to  calcula- 
tion, prepare  a  table,  showing  the  exact  profit 
upon  1,  5  and  10  acres  in  the  Mulberry  culture, 
according  to  the  data  furnished  by  Mr.  D'Hom- 
ergue, that  of  Count  Dandolo,  and  ourself,  the 
actual  cost  of  labor  being  charged. 


A  TABLE  shewing  the  actual  profits  of  the  Mulberry  culture  upon  1,  5  and  10  acres,  according  to  the 
estimates  of  Mr.  D'Homergue,  Count  Dandolo,  and  the  Author  of  this  Manual. 

Estimate  of  trie  Author 
of  this  Manual. 

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As  we  desire  to  be  fully  understood  upon 
this  important  branch  of  the  subject,  we  will  en- 
ter somewhat  more  at  large  upon  it.  We  ask 
leave  then,  in  the  first  instance,  to  remind  the 
reader  that  we  have  assumed  the  ability  of  an 
acre  of  ground  in  Mulberry  trees,  six  years  old, 
to  sustain  540,000  worms.  This  number  is  ar- 
bitrary, it  may  be  said,  and  so  it  is,  as  also  is 
that  of  the  yield  of  single  trees ;  but  they  are  both 
in  our  estimation  low.  We  believe  that  if  a 
standard  tree  20  years  old,  will  yield  200  Ibs.  of 
foliage,  it  is  a  moderate  calculation  to  say  that 
one  in  the  hedge  row  at  4  years  old  will  give 
4  Ibs.,  and  that  at  6  it  will  yield  7  Ibs.  Mr. 
D'Homergue  estimates  that  a  standard  tree  of 
the  same  nge  will  yield  30  Ibs.,  and  when  we 


37 


claim  less  than  one-fifth  for  it  in  the  hedge,  we 
think  we  must  be  thought  moderate. 

The  acre  as  we  have  before  shown,  in  the 
hedge-form,  will  contain  4840  trees,  which  when 
4  years  old,  at  4  Ibs.  of  leaves  to  each,  will  pro- 
duce 19,360  Ibs.  of  leaves,  and  feed  387,200 
worms,  as  50  pounds  will  support  1,000  during  the 
feeding  season. 

4,840 
4 


19,360 

1000 


5,0)  1936000,0 

387,200  worms. 

At  6  years  old,  according  to  our  assumption,  the 
following  will  be  the  result : 

4,840  trees  on  an  acre  of  hedge, 
7  Ibs.  of  foliage  per  each, 

33,880  Ibs.  of  foliage  upon  an  acre, 
1000 


5,0)  33,88000,0 


677,600 

540,000  number  of  assumed  by  us. 


137,600  excess  over  our  calculation. 


It  would  thus  appear  evident,  that  if  the  trees 
at  8  years  old  should  yield  the  quantity  of  leaves 
assumed  by  us,  an  acre  of  land  will  afford  fo- 
liage enough  to  support  137,600,  or  one-fourth 
more  worms  than  we  have  claimed  for  it,  which 
would,  as  3,000  give  a  pound  of  silk,  make  a 
difference  in  favor  of  an  acre  in  silk  culture,  over 
our  preceding  estimate,  of  upwards  of  45  Ibs.  of 
silk,  or,  at  the  rate  of  $4  per  lb.,  of  $180. 

It  may  be  said,  that  all  calculations  which  fix 
the  number  of  pounds  of  foliage  to  be  produced 
by  a  Mulberry  tree,  must  necessarily  be  uncer- 
tain, and  equally  so  is  the  assumption  that  a  tree 
will  yield  food  for  any  given  number  of  worms. 
But  then  in  both  of  these  forms  we  must  be  gov- 
erned by  the  experience  of  such  culturists  as  re- 
liance may  be  placed  upon.  Count  De  Hazzi, 
says,  that  "  it  is  now  exactly  known,  from  long 
experience,  what  quantity  of  food  the  worms  re- 
quire in  their  several  ages,  until  they  have  begun 
to  spin  their  silk.  Twenty  thousand  worms  cor- 
respond to  one  ounce  of  eggs  of  our  weight,  and 
they  require  through  all  their  ages  a  thousand 
pounds  of  leaves."  From  18  to  20  good  Mul- 
berry trees  give,  each,  one  quintal  and  a  half  of 
leaves,  and  consequently,  from  8  to  10  trees  are 
necessary  for  twenty  thousand  worms.  From 
the  concurrent  testimony  of  almost  all  the  wri- 
.ters,  from  37  to  50  Ibs.  of  leaves  is  consumed 


during  the  feeding  season  by  a  thousand  worms, 
and  having  taken  the  largest  average,  we  feel 
certain  that  we  cannot  at  all  events  be  consider- 
ed as  exaggerating  profits. 

TABLE      OF     DISTANCES. 

A  table  showing  the  number  of  plants  on  an 

acre  at  certain  distances,  there  being  43,560 
square  feet  in  an  acre. 

Feet                 feet  plants. 

l\         by          6  4,840 

l\         by          8  3,630 

2  by          6  3,630 

3  by          6  2,420 

3  by  8  1,815 

4  by  4  2,722 
6  by  6  1,210 
6  by  8  907 
8  by  8  686 

10  by  10  435 

10  by  12              .      363 

12  by  12  302 

12  by  15  242 

15  by  15  193 

15  by  20  145 

20  by  20  108 

20  by  25  8T 

24  by  24  75 

25  by  25  69 
25  by  30  58 
30  by  SO  40 
30  by  40  86 

TABLE      OF      MEASURES. 

14  oz.  cocoons  produce  about  1  oz.  eggs. 
68  eggs  weigh  1  grain. 

1  oz.  contains  22,640  eggs.* 

5  ounces,  1 13,200  u 

10  ounces,  226,400  " 

15  ounces,  339,600  " 
20  ounces,  452,800  " 
40  ounces,  905,600  " 
SO  ounces,  1,811,200  " 

1,000  worms  consume       50  Ibs.  of  leaves,f 
9  Ibs.  of  cocoons  will  make  about  1  lb.  of  silk, 
3000  cocoons  make  about  1  lb.  of  silk.J 
800    cocoons  make  about  1  lb.  of  cocoons. 
A  female  moth  will  lay  about  450  eggs. 

MODE    OF    GATHERING    LEAVES. 

Count  Dandolo  states  that  much  depends,  in 
regard  to  a  long  preservation  of  Mulberry  trees 
and  hedges,  on  the  method  of  gathering  their 
leaves;  that  it  should  be  done  with  the  greatest 
care,  to  prevent  the-  trees  from  receiving  injuries. 
That  caution  is  so  much  the  more  necessary,  as 
nature  has  not  intended  they  should  be  stripped 


*The  general  computation  is  that  an  ounce  of 
eggs  will  hatch  20,000  worms. 

|Count  Dandolo  says  87  Ibs.  will  answer. 

JThe  Precise  number  depends  upon  the 
quality  of  the  cocoons — 24,000,  2,500,  2,542 
and  3,000,  have  respectively  made  a  lb.  of  silk. 


38 


violently  of  their  foliage.  It  is,  says  he,  essential 
that  all  the  leaves  should  be  pulled  off,  for  if  any 
remain  on  some  branches,  they  attract  the  sap 
whilst  the  naked  branches  are  incompletely 
nourished.  The  stripping  of  the  leaves  should 
not  be  begun  before  the  disappearance  of  the  dew, 
and  ought  to  be  concluded  before  the  setting  of 
the  sun.  The  hand  should  move  from  below 
upwards,  in  order  to  avoid  pulling  off  the  buds. 

All  climbing  upon  trees  must  be  avoided,  and 
the  best  way  to  gather  the  leaves,  it  is  suggested, 
would  be  to  use  a  rolling  ladder,  which  consists 
of  two  parts,  a  wheelbarrow,  the  legs  of  which 
are  to  be  from  seven  to  eight  feet  long,  straight, 
somewhat  projecting  beyond  the  wheel,  and 
connected  by  four  cross  sticks;  and  a  ladder  six 
feet  long,  which  is  attached  to  the  wheelbarrow 
by  a  fourth  cross  stick  ;  with  this  apparatus  a  sin- 
gle man  is  able  to  carry  several  bags  of  leaves. 
The  end  to  be  placed  on  the  ground  must  be 
pointed  with  iron.  The  bags  used  in  this  appara- 
tus must  be  hooped,  so  as  to  remain  open,  and 
ought  to  have  a  hook  to  be  hung  on  the  branch- 
es, and  care  must  be  taken  that  the  leaves  be  not 
emptied  on  the  ground,  it  being  particularly  de- 
sirable to  keep  them  clear  of  dust:  when  con- 
veyed to  the  wheelbarrow  they  should  be  kept 
sheltered  from  the  sun.  Leaves  covered  with 
a  taugh  viscous  matter, — the  honey  dew,  as  it  is 
called, — are  injurious  to  the  worms;  they  must 
be  used  only  in  case  of  necessity,  and  not  then 
until  they  are  thoroughly  washed  and  dried. 

If  the  hedge-form  be  adopted,  as  it  should  be, 
all  the  trouble  and  expense  of  the  rolling  ladders, 
will  be  rendered  wholly  unnecessary.  But  even 
in  that  event,  lightly  constructed  wheelbarrows, 
with  deep  beds,  might  very  advantageously  be 
substituted  for  the  cart,  as  a  means  of  transporting 
the  leaves  from  the  Mulberry  groves  to  the  labora- 
tory. 

SUPPLY      OF     LEAVES. 

Care  must  always  be  taken  to  keep  a  good  sup- 
ply of  leaves  pulled  and  stored  away  in  some  cool 
place,  and  therefore  it  is  particularly  desirable  to 
have  a  spacious  airy  cellar  under  the  laboratory 
where  you  may  deposit  three  or  four  days  supply 
of  leaves,  so  as  to  be  prepared  against  rainy-spells, 
as  it  will  not  do  to  feed  the  worms  with  wet  haves 
A  brick  or  stone  pavement  would  be  best. — 
Should  it  so  turn  out,  from  long  continued  rains, 
that  your  supply  of  dry  leaves  are  exhausted,  you 
must  dry  those  which  you  may  gather  wet,  be- 
fore you  altempt  to  feed  the  worms  with  them 
This  can  be  done  by  putting  the  leaves  on  clean 
cloths  on  the  floor  and  turning  them  repeatedly,  so 
as  to  let  the  water  escape  by  evaporation  and  o 
therwise.  But  such  an  occurrence  may  be  always 
avoided  by  a  judicious  exercise  of  judgment,  anc 
vigilant  watching  of  the  signs,  of  the  weather,  by 
prudently  having  a  supply  in  store.  Dusty  leaves 
must  not  be  fed  to  the  worms. 


TIME  WHEN  THE   LEAVES  ARE  PIT  FOR  FEEDING. 

It  is  important  that  the  silk  culturist  should 
enow  when  the  leaves  will  be  fit  for  feeding,  in 
order  that  he  may  make  the  hatching  of  the  eggs 
of  his  silk  worms  to  correspond  therewith.  We 
will,  therefore,  remark  that  generally,  the  leaves  of 
both  the  Morus  Multicaulis  and  the  Mfirus 
Alba  would  be  sufficiently  forward  to  be  pulled 
n  Maryland  about  the  middle  of  May,  to  the 
vestward  a  few  days  later,  to  the  eastward  two 
,veeks  later;  and  in  Virginia  (Eastern,)  and  the 
states  further  south,  from  15  to  25  days  earlier. 

THE  LABORATORY  OR  COCOONERY,  &C. 

Having  thus  fully  spoken  of  the  Mulberry  tree, 
and  given  all  the  necessary  instructions  relative 
to  its  culture,  from  the  sowing  of  the  seed,  until 
he  trees  are  sufficiently  matured  to  justify  the 
itripping  of  the  foliage  for  feeding  the  worms,  it 
would  seem  proper  that  we  should  say  something 
about  the  construction  of  a  laboratory,  or  co- 
coonery, for  the  accommodation  of  the  worms, 
and  of  the  necessary  fixtures  for  conveniently 
carrying  on  their  feeding,  the  preservation  of 
their  health  and  the  profitable  employment  of 
their  very  notable  and  interesting  labors. 

DESCRIPTION  OF   COUNT  DANDOLo's  LABORATORY. 

My  laboratory,  says  Count  Dandolo,  is  con- 
structed to  contain  twenty  ounces  of  the  eggs  of 
silk  worms,  or  to  accommodate  800,000  worms. 
It  is  30  feet  wide,  77  feet  long,  12  feet  high 
in  the  clear,  and  when  reckoned  to  the  top  of  the 
roof,  21  feet  high.  There  are  six  rows  of  tables  or 
wicker  trays,  about  2  feet  6  inches  in  width 
each,  placed  two  and  two,  with  four  passages  be- 
tween them,  each  three  feet  wide.  Posts  are 
driven  in  between  the  trays,  and  strips  of  wood 
fastened  to  the  posts  horizontally,  to  sup- 
port the  trays,  between  which  there  is  a  space  of 
five  inches  and  a  half  to  allow  the  air  to  pass  free- 
ly. 

There  are  13  unglazed  windows  with  Vene- 
tian shutters,  outside,  and  paper  window  frames 
inside ;  under  each  window,  near  the  floor,  are 
ventilators,  or  square  apertures  of  about  13  inch- 
es that  they  may  be  closed  by  a  neatly  filled  sliding 
panne!,  so  as  to  permit  the  air  to  circulate  and 
blow  over  the  floor.  When  the  air  is  not  requir- 
ed, the  paper  frames  may  be  closed.  The  Vene- 
tian shutters  may  be  opened  or  shut  at  will,  [or 
substituted  for  the  common  pannel  shutter.] 
When  the  air  is  still,  and  the  temperature  of  the 
interior  and  exterior  is  nearly  equal,  all  the  win- 
dow frames  may  be  opened  and  the  shutters 
must  be  closed. 

There  are  eight  ventilators  in  two  lines  in  the 
floor  and  ceiling,  placed  perpendicularly,  opposite 
to  one  another,  in  the  centre  of  the  passages  be- 
tween the  hurdles  or  trays.  They  have  sliding 
pannels  made  of  thick  glass  to  close  them,  and 
to  admit  light  from  above.  As  the  air  of  the 
floor  ventilators  ascends,  and  that  of  the  ceiling 


39 


ventilators  descends,  it  must  pass  through  the 
trays.  There  are  also  six  other  ventilators, 
made  in  the  floor,  to  communicate  with  the 
rooms  beneath.  Three  of  the  thirteen  windows 
are  at  the  end  of  the  house ;  and  at  the  opposite 
end,  are  three  doors,  constructed  so  as  to  admit 
more  or  Jess  air  as  may  be  necessary.  These 
doors  open  into  another  hall,  36  feet  long  and 
90  feet  wide,  which  forms  a  continuation  of  the 
large  laboratory,  and  contains  trays  sufficiently 
raised  to  facilitate  the  care  of  the  worms.  In  this 
hall  there  are  6  windows  and  6  ventilators  under 
them,  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  floor,  and  also 
four  ventilators  in  the  ceiling.  There  are  6  fire- 
places in  the  great  laboratory,  one  in  each  angle, 
and  one  on  each  side  of  the  centre,  and  a  large 
stove  in  the  middle  ;  glass  oil  burners,  that  give 
no  smoke,  are  used  to  give  light  at  night.  Be- 
tween the  hall  and  the  great  laboratory,  there  is 
a  small  room  having  two  large  doors,  the  one 
communicating  with  the  laboratory,  the  other  with 
the  hall.  In  the  centre  of  the  floor  there  is  a 
large  square  opening,  which  communicates  with 
the  lower  part  of  the  building.  This  is  closed 
with  a  wooden  folding  door;  this  aperture  is 
used  for  throwing  down  the  litter  and  rubbish 
of  the  laboratory,  and  for  admitting  Mulberry 
leaves,  which  can  be  drawn  up  by  a  hand-pulley. 
Such  is  the  construction  of  the  laboratory  of 
Count  Dandolo. 

In  giving  the  above  minute  description  of 
Count  Dandolo's  laboratory,  we  do  not  offer  it  as 
a  model  worthy  of  being  adopted  by  culturists  in 
the  U.  States.  On  the  contrary,  we  think  it  espe- 
cially to  be  avoided  as  an  example, and  for  the  sim- 
ple reason  that  it  is  too  costly  ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing,that  we  admonish  againstits  adoption,  we  think 
valuable  hints  may  be  derived  from  it,  inasmuch 
as  it  will  enable  those  about  to  engage  in  the  bu- 
siness to  see  the  great  principles  to  be  aimed  at  in 
the  construction  of  an  establishment,  to  wit, 
"  convenience,  the  preservation  of  a  proper  tem- 
perature, and  the  free  circulation  of  air."  These 
are  the  great  cardinal  points  to  which  the  Ameri- 
can cultivator  must  attend,  whatever  may  be  the 
extent  of  the  buildhsg  he  may  construct. 

Almost  every  large  estate  in  the  United  States 
have  buildings  upon  them  which  might  at  a  tri- 
fling expense  be  converted  into  laboratories  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  worms.  Barns,  to- 
bacco houses,  out  houses,  may  all  be  so  altered 
as  to  answer  without  at  all  interfering  with  their 
usefulness  for  the  objects  for  which  they  were 
originally  built.  All  buildings  may  be  said  to 
be  proper  for  receiving  silk  worms^  which  have 
one  or  more  fire-places,  two  or  more  ventilators  in 
the  ceiling,  on  a  level  with  the  floor,  and  windows 
through  which  light  may  be  admitted  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  sunshine. 

And  where  no  such  buildings  already  exist, 
that  can  be  spared  for  the  purposes  of  the  worms, 


one  at  a  very  moderate  cost  may  be  erected 
Any  one  with  ordinary  enterprise  and  ingenuity 
may  go  into  his  woods  and  in  a  few  days  prepare 
posts,  scantling  and  clap-boards  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  construct  a  house  even  upon  the 
most  extensive  scale.  As  to  the  chimneys 
and  shutters,  they  will  answer  every  valuable 
purpose,  no  matter  how  plain,  or  how  coarse,  the 
materials  of  which  they  may  be  made. 

In  this  country  it  is  recommended  that  houses 
erected  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  raising  silk 
worms,  should  be  placed  in  the  coolest  place's, and 
most  airy  situations  attainable,  and  in  the  shade 
of  trees,  if  possible,  because  it  is  always  within 
our  power  to  increase  the  heat  of  the  apartment, 
when  necessary,  by  means  of  stoves  or  fire-places, 
but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  guard  against  a  sudden 
increase  of  heat  in  the  weather,  which  might  go 
far  to  defeat  the  labors  of  the  season,  if  it  should 
occur  in  the  fifth  age,  when  the  worms  are  nearly 
done  eating,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter. 

We  will  now  describe  the  apparatus  of  the 
reverend  Mr.  Sevagne,  which  is  highly  spoken  of  in 
the  Transactions  of  the  Society  of  Arts,  Lon- 
don. It  is  recommended  on  account  of  the 
small  space  occupied  by  it,  the  neatness  in  which 
it  enables  persons  using  it,  to  keep  the  apartment 
clean,  and  the  ease  with  which  the  caterpillars 
can  be  fed  and  their  litter  removed. 

MR.  SEVAGNE'S  APPARATUS. 

"  The  apparatus  consists  of  a  wooden  frame, 
four  feet  two  inches  high,  each  side  sixteen  inch- 
es and  a  half  wide,  divided  into  eight  partitions, 
by  small  pieces  of  wood,  which  form  grooves,  in 
which  the  slides  run,  and  are  thus  easily  thrust  in 
or  drawn  out  of  the  frame.  The  upper  slide  is 
of  paper  only,  and  designed  to  receive  the  worms 
as  soon  as  hatched",  the  two  next  are  of  catgut, 
the  threads  about  one-tenth  of  an  inch  distant 
from  one  another ;  these  are  for  the  insects,  when 
a  little  advanced  in  size ;  the  four  lower  ones  are 
of  a  wicker  work,  the  openings  through  which 
the  dung  is  to  fall,  being  about  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  square.  -Under  each  of  these,  as  well  as 
under  those  of  catgut,  are  slides  of  paper,  to  pre- 
vent the  dung  of  the  cocoons  from  falling  on 
those  feeding  below." 

"Mr.  Sevagne  afterwards  found  that  netting 
may  be  substituted  with  advantage,  in  the  room 
of  wicker  bottoms.  The  meshes  of  the  netting 
were  about  half  an  inch  square." 

"The  caterpillars  are  to  be  kept  in  the  second 
and  third  drawers,  until  their  dung  and  litter  do 
not  readily  fall  through,  and  then  to  be  removed 
to  the  drawers  with  wicker  bottoms,  arid  fed 
thereon,  till  they  shew  symptoms  of  being  aboutto 
spin.  Each  wicker  drawer  will  afford  sufficient 
room  for  five  hundred  worms,  when  grown  to 
their  full  size." 

In  order  to  provide  against  a  contingent  in- 
crease of  caterpillars,  it  will  be  always  best  to 


40 


have  a  number  of  spare  drawers  ready  for  their 
accommodation. 

"  The  feeding  frames  of  the  Messrs.  Terhoeven, 
of  Philadelphia  county,  are  four  feet  square,  and 
are  fixed  to  upright  posts;  they  have  two  sets  in 
one  room,  with  passages  between  and  around 
them.  This  size  enables  a  person  to  reach  any 
point  of  them.  Over  the  shelves,  are  frames  or 
shelves  placed  on  elects,  and  filled  with  split 
rattans  at  proper  distances  to  permit  the  litter 
from  falling  through." 

It  is  obvious  to  us  that  all  costly  expenditures, 
either  in  the  construction  of  a  laboratory  or  in 
that  of  the  shelves  for  feeding  the  worms  on,  are 
not  only  unnecessary,  but  would  be  a  wanton 
waste  of  means  and  time.  The  great  object  of  an 
American  culturist  should,  and  doubtless,  will  be, 
to  make  money — to  study  utility  instead  of  orna- 
ment— profit  instead  of  display, — in  a  word,  the 
healthful  accommodation  and  profitable  employ- 
ment of  his  worms.  If  these  be  his  objects,  they 
can  all  be  attained  for  a  very  small  comparative 
amount,  and  if  they  be  not,  he  had  better  not  en- 
gage in  the  business,  but  leave  it  to  the  posses- 
sion of  those  who  will  enter  into  it  with  a  view 
of  benefitting  themselves  and  their  country. 

To  those  who  shall  be  thus  influenced,  there 
can  be  no  difficulty  either  in  providing  a  house 
or  the  necessary  fixtures ;  for  they  may  be  both 
provided  with  the  least  possible  expense  :  the 
plainer  and  more  simple  the  better.  The  fact  is, 
there  is  a  mystery  thrown  around  these  matters, 
as  there  are  around  every  thing  else  in  European 
works,  calculated,  if  not  so  intended,  to  create 
difficulties  where  none  exist,  and  to  give  to  very 
simple  operations  the  air  of  complication.  We 
will  not  say  that  these  things  are  done  with  a 
view  of  repressing  the  spirit  of  competition — of 
preventing  rivalry — for  we  have  alike  too  much 
respect  for  ourself  and  charity  for  others,  to  be- 
lieve in  the  existence  of  motives  so  unworthy, 
unless  upon  the  most  indisputable  authority  ;  but 
the  effect  of  the  elementary  treatises  of  European 
origin,  upon  this,  and  many  other  branches  of  in- 
dustry, are  so  mixed  up  with  unprofitable  phi- 
losophical speculations,  so  embarrassed  with  im- 
practicable theories,  and  the  ostentatious  display 
of  learning,  as  to  deter  a  plain  common  sense 
man  from  engaging  in  them.  Whereas,  when 
they  come  to  be  stripped  of  the  verbiage,  and  to  be 
divested  of  the  fustian,  with  which  they  are  de- 
corated,they  are  very  plain  concerns — just  such  as 
an  ordinary,  enterprising,  industrious  farmer, 
might  lay  hold  of,  with  decided  advantage  to  him- 
self, his  family,  and  the  nation  at  large. 

Why  need  there  be  such  parade  about  building 
a  house  for  the  worms  to  perform  their  labors  in  ? 
In  their  native  state,  the  forests  of  India  were  their 
dwellings,  and  the  canopy  of  heaven  their  only 
cocoonery,  or  laboratory.  There,  there  were  no  ve- 
netian  shutters,  no  costly  wicker  or  latticed  work 


shelves,  no  hygrometers  nor  hydrometers,  and 
yet  they  lived  on  mid  sunshine  and  rain  and  thun- 
der and  lightning.  True  they  were  then  in  their 
wild  and  native  state — true  also  it  is,  experience 
has  shown  that  since  domesticated  by  man,  and 
furnished  with  dwellings,  they  have  yielded  more 
and  better  silk  ;  have  suffered  less  from  their 
natural  enemies  :  but  then,  we  maintain,  the  more 
simple  and  plain  their  accommodations  are,  the 
better.  In  proof  of  this,  we  would  mention  that 
in  Italy,  France,  Bavaria,  and  other  European 
countries,  where  the  silk  culture  forms  a  materi- 
al branch  of  husbandry,  the  hovel  of  the  peasant, 
the  barns,  kitchens  and  all  other  out-buildings  of 
the  opulent,  are  each  converted  into  laboratories 
for  the  time  being.  And  such  also,  is  the  fact 
in  the  New  England  states.  There,  those  who 
have  not  the  means  of  constructing  cocooneries,  as 
they  there  term  the  feeding  houses  of  the  worms, 
give  them,  during  the  short  period  of  their  labors, 
situations  in  their  dwellings,  barns  and  every  oth- 
er place  on  their  respective  farms,  calculated  to 
afford  room  and  shelter.  In  corroboration  of 
what  we  have  just  said,  we  will  quote  from  Mr. 
Cobb's  excellent  Manual,  the  observations  which 
he  makes  upon  this  head.  He  says  : 

"  European  laboratories  have  been  constructed 
with  great  care  and  expense;  but  however  con- 
venient these  may  be,  they  are  by  no  means  ne- 
cessary to  success  in  rearing  silk  worms  ;  almost 
any  building  will  answer  for  that  purpose.  I 
have  reared  them  myself  with  success  in  a  barn, 
in  my  cellar,  kitchen,  and  other  rooms  of  rny 
dwelling-house,  and  in  the  lower  story  of  Tre- 
mont  House,  in  Boston." 

It  was  found  in  France  that  the  cocoons 
brought  to  market  by  the  peasants,  raised  in  hov- 
els so  full  of  cracks  as  easily  to  be  seen  through, 
and  to  admit  the  air  freely,  were  richer  and 
heavier  than  those  raised  in  palaces  and  in  the 
confined  rooms  of  dwellings  in  cities. 

We  infer  from  all  that  we  have  seen  and  read 
upon  the  subject,  that  all  to  be  aimed  at  in  the 
erection  of  a  laboratory,  is,  to  put  up  a  plain, 
cheap,  substantial  house,  sufficiently  large  to  ac- 
commodate the  number  of  worms  you  contem- 
plate feeding;  to  be  provided  with  windows  that 
will  admit  the  air  and  exclude  the  sun;  with 
fire-places  or  stoves,  as  may  be  most  convenient, 
so  that  a  proper  temperature  may  be  kept  up  at 
all  times,  and  especially  when  it  rains,  as  damp- 
ness exercises  a  pernicious  influence  over  the 
worms,  in  generating  a  noxious  effluvium,  detri- 
mental to  their  health. 

Upon  the  subject  of  a  laboratory  or  cocoonery, 
and  the  necessary  fixtures,  we  shall  further  copy 
from  the  excellent  essays  of  our  intelligent  towns- 
man, Gideon  B.  Smith,  Esquire,  whose  experi- 
ence and  observation  entitle  his  opinions  to  eve^ 
ry  possible  consideration. 


MR.  SMITH'S  PLAN. 

'The  fixtures  necessary  for  raising  silk  worm 
are,  appropriate  tables  or  shelves,  in  number  anc 
size  corresponding  with  the  number  of  worms  to 
be  fed.  The  best  form  for  shelves  that  I  have 
seen  is  that  adopted  by  my  friend,  Mr.  J.  Y 
Tornpkins,  of  this  city.  It  is  about  2  J  feet  wide 
by  5  or  6  feet  long,  made  of  thin  boards,  with  a 
piece  2  inches  wide  nailed  flat  on  the  tipper  edge 
along  the  sides  and  ends,  with  legs  about  a  foot 
long  in  the  corners.  The  legs  do  not  pass  through 
the  table,  but  leave  a  part  of  the  hole  on  the  up- 
per side,  for  the  feet  of  another  table  to  set  in. 
Thus  contrived,  five  or  six  of  these  tables  are  set 
one  above  another,  and  are  taken  down,  cleaned, 
and  again  set  up  with  facility.  One  of  these 
shelves  will  accommodate  about  500  worms.  If 
I  could  suggest  any  improvement  in  these  shelves, 
it  would  be  the  substitution  of  twine  net-work  for 
the  board  of  floors,  with  slides  under  them  to 
catch  the  excrement  of  the  worms.* 

The  room  or  laboratory  must,  of  course,  be  of 
a  size  proportionate  to  the  number  of  worms 
raised,  and  should  be  provided  with  windows  or 
ventilators  on  the  north  and  south  sides  at  least ; 
and  if  one  or  two  ventilators,  are  opened  in  the 
ceiling  it  will  be  of  great  service.  These  ven- 
tilators, however,  should  have  shutters  that  they 
may  be  closed  at  any  time  when  necessary.  Fire- 
places or  stoves  should  also  be  provided  for  use 
when  necessary.  For  the  accommodation  of 
1,000,000  worms,  a  room  about  80  feet  long  and 
40  wide  would  be  required.  A  large  establish- 
ment would  also  require  a  ware-room  for  the  de- 
posit of  leaves,  and  this  should  be  large,  so  that 
in  wet  weather  the  leaves  may  be  shaken  and  scat- 
tered about  for  drying.  This  room  might  be  ad- 
vantageously situated  above  the  laboratory.  A 
cool,  dark  cellar,  will  also  be  useful,  for  keeping 
the  leaves  fresh  in  dry  weather: — White  Mulberry 
leaves  will  thus  keep  fresh  for  three  days — the 
native  Mulberry  will  not  keep  so  long." 

NUMBER      OF     ATTENDANTS     NECESSARY     FOR    A 
MILLION  OF  WORMS. 

Mr.  Smith  says  that, 

"  The   number  of    attendants   necessary   for 

1,000,000    worms  will  be  tioo  the  first    week, 

four  the  second,  eight  the  third,  and  sixteen  to 

twenty  the   remainder   of  the  feeding   season ; 

one  half  of  which  may  be  boys  and  girls." 

In  speaking  of  his  fixtures,  Mr.  Cobb  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, says  : 

"  I  have  used  three  tiers  of  rough  pine  boards 
fixed  upon  upright  posts,  about  4  feet  in  width, 
one  above  the  other,  with  a  space  between,  of 
two  and  a  half  feet,  affording  sufficient  room  to 

*This  hint  has  been  improved  upon  by  Mr. 
Whitmarsh,  as  the  reader  will  see  in  reading  the 
description  of  his  "cocoonery." 
6 


41 

|  pass  all  around  the  frame,  so  that  I  could  conve- 
niently reach  any  part  of  it." 

The  plan  of  Mr.  Cobb,  the  reader  will  observe, 
is  that  pursued  by  Messrs.  Terhoeven,  of  Phila- 
delphia county,  Pennsylvania,  and  does  not  differ 
at  all  from  that  recommended  by  Mr.  Smith. 

On  the  subject  of  a  laboratory  and  its  fixtures, 
we  will  give  one  other  plan,  which  we  copy  from 
the  Northampton  Courier.  It  is  that  of  Mr.  Whtt- 
mors/j,,  which,  as  we  have  before  remarked,  is  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Smith  for,  probably,  the  best  part 
of  its  arrangement ;  we  allude  to  the  lattice  work 
frames,  which  are  identical  with  those  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Swayne. 

MR.  WHITMARSH'S   COCOONERY. 

"  Mr.  Samuel  Whitmarsh  is  erecting  an  edifice 
of  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  east  of  his  house 
on  Fort  Hill,  as  a  Silk  House  and  Cocoonery. 
The  plan  of  it  is  original,  and  promises  the  best 
results.  The  worms  while  feeding,  are  now 
laid  out  upon  boards  and  benches  by  those  who 
rear  them,  covered  with  Mulberry  leaves,  and 
when  for  health  and  cleanliness  they  are  re- 
quired to  be  moved,  it  must  be  done  separate- 

y. 

Mr.  Whitmarsh's  building  is  intersected  by  al- 
eys,  and  on  each  side  tiers  of  sliding  frames  or 
drawers  rise  from  the   floor   upwards.      These 
frames  are  covered  with  lattice  work  of  tome. 
The  top  one  is  laid  over  with  leaves  upon  which 
he  worms  feed.     The  second  frame  about  an 
nch  and  a  half  below,  is  covered  with  strong  pa- 
per or  coarse  cotton.     The  stems  of  the  leaves  or 
offal  from  the  worms  fall  from  the  lattice  work, 
above  upon  this  drawer,  and  when  the  usual  time 
or  cleaning  them  comes,  instead  of  lifting  each 
separately,  it  is   only  requisite   to  remove   the 
ower  drawer  and  the  cleaning   is  accomphsn- 

The  leaf  of  the  Chinese  Mulberry,  which  Mr. 
W.  will  use,  is  so  tender  that  the  worm  will  de- 
vour it  all.  Sometimes  they  will  fall  from  the 
attice  work  above  upon  the  paper  drawer  below, 
n  that  case,  when  a  supply  of  leaves  is  laid  on 
,bove,  the  worms  at  once  ascend,  as  the  distance 
s  not  too  great  between  them,  to  prevent  their 
caching  above.  This  is  a  great  and  important 
ihange  introduced  into  the  method  of  feeding 
.nd  cleanliness,  saving  time  and  promoting  the 
health  of  the  worms. 

Another  improvement  to  be  introduced  by  Mr. 
Whitmarsh,  is  the  aid  given  the  worms  in  wind- 
ing their  cocoons.  Now,  when  the  worms  have 
terminated  their  feeding,  easily  known  by  their 
movements,  branches  of  trees  and  bushes  are  laid 
over  or  suspended  above  them,  and  among  which 
the  process  of  winding  is  carried  on.  Conse- 
quently, they  are  much  entangled  in  securing 
themselves,  and  lost  to  sight,  and  a  great  deal  of 
labour  and  silk  is  lost,  in  the  awkward  method 
of  separating  the  cocoons  for  use,  from  the  bushes. 


42 


He  proposes,  \vlien  the  worms  arc  ready  to 
wind,  to  transfer  them  to  upright  frames,  with 
twine  lattice  work,  standing  about  an  inch  and 
half  apart.  The  worms  will  reach  over  from  one 
frame  to  the  other,  fasten  themselves  at  each  ex- 
tremity, and  then,  in  a  small  compass,  envelope 
themselves  in  their  cocoons.  Every  thing  is  then 
clean  and  compact,  and  after  they  have  finish- 
ed winding,  the  frames  in  pairs  ran  bs  put 
away  compactly,  and,  when  wanted  for  use,  the 
cocoons  may  be  easily  taken  oft'.  The  building  is 
well  contrived  for  ventilation,  and  the  reeling,  by 
steam  power,  will  be  carried  on  in  the  same  edi- 
fice. He  intends  to  feed  a  million  of  worms 
this  summer  and  reel  four  or  five  hundred  pounds 
of  silk." 

We  have  been  thus  particular  in  developing 
the  various  plans  oflaboratories  and  fixtures,  be- 
cause it  is  the  only  part  of  the  silk  and  Mulberry 
culture  which  can,  in  the  least,  be  thought  to  bear 
the  smallest  resemblance  to  costliness,  and  the 
intelligent  reader  will  find  on  a  proper  examina- 
tion, that  for  a  very  few  hundred  dollar?  a  house 
calculated  to  accommodate  many  millions  of 
worms'  may  be  built,  and  that  it  is  so  simple  in 
its  construction  as  to  be  within  the  achievement 
of  the  mechanical  skill  of  most  plantation  hands 

HATCHING    THE    WORMS. 

The  time  of  hatching  the  eggs  is  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  forwardness  of  the  season,  and 
should  mainly  be  regulated  by  the  state  of  the 
Mulberry  leaves  on  which  they  are  to  be  fed  and 
supported  ;  for  it  is  a  reckless  waste  of  time  and 
hazarding  of  prospective  gain,  to  bring  them  into 
being  before  you  are  prepared  to  sustain  their 
wants.  All  the  authors  we  have  consulted  agree 
in  this,  that  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have  developed 
themselves  you  may  make  your  arrangements 
for  stimulating  the  worms  into  life.  Upon  this 
head  Mr.  Smith  observes  that : 

"At  the  period  for  hatching,  which  in  Mary- 
land, is  generally  about  the  1st  of  May,  the  eggs 
which  are  presumed  to  have  been  kept  in  the  cel- 
lar, may  be  brought  out  and  spread  on  paper  on 
a  common  table,  called  the  hatching  table.  The 
proper  period  is  always  best  ascertained  by  the 
state  of  the  Mulberry  leaves.  1  consider  the  best 
and  most  safe  time  to  be  that  when  the  leaves 
are  about  the  size  of  a  half  dollar.  The  hatching 
table  may  be  kept  in  the  common  laboratory. 
If  the  weather  be  mild  and  warm,  the  eggs  will 
begin  to  hatch  in  eight  or  ten  days.  The  first 
day  or  two  there  will  but  few  leave  the  eggs. 
They  need  not  be  attended  to.  On  the  third 
a  considerable  quantity  will  hatch.  Some  fresh 
leaves  should  then  be  laid  on  them,  when  they 
will  soon  attach  themselves  to  the  leaves,  and 
should  be  removed  on  to  a  shelf  and  be  thinly 
spread  out.  The  next  day  all  that  have  hatched 
should  be  treated  in  the  same  way ;  and  so  on 
lill  they  have  all  hatched,  which  will  generally 


he  in  five  or  six  days.  Each  day's  hatching 
hould  be  placed  on  separate  shelves,  and  the 
whole  laboratory  arranged  into  as  many  divisions 
of  shelves  as  there  were  day's  hatchings,  that 
they  may  be  continually  kept  separate.  This  is 
important  that  the  periods  of  moulting  and  spin- 
ning may  be  as  nearly  the  same  with  all  the 
worms  on  a  shelf  as  possible. 

In  large  establishments  a  small  close  room, 
with  a  stove  will  be  very  useful  in  hatching  the 
eggs,  as  the  temperature  may  be  regulated  at 
pleasure.  But  in  this  case  a  thermometer  is  al- 
most indispensable,  as  there  would  be  danger  of 
too  high  a  degree  of  heat,  which  would  spoil  the 
eggs  at  this  season,  and  the  necessary  equability 
and  gradual  increase  of  the  temperature  could 
not  be  secured  without  one.  In  this  mode  of 
hatching  by  artificial  heat,  the  worms  will  be 
brought  out  with  more  regularity  and  in  less 
time  than  in  that  above  described, and  therefore  it 
is  preferable  in  large  establishments.  The  hatch- 
ing room  should  be,  when  the  eggs  are  carried  in- 
to it,  of  about  70°  temperature,^  which  should  be 
increased  one  degree  a  day  till  the  worms  are 
hatched.  The  hatching  room  will  therefore  be 
of  about  80°  temperature  when  the  worms  are 
hatched,  and  if  the  laboratory  is  not  then  about 
the  same  temperature  it  should  be  raised  to  it, 
or  nearly  so,  before  carrying  in  the  young  worms, 
that  they  may  not  experience  too  great  and  sud- 
den a  change  The  leaves  maybe  torn  in  small 
pieces  whilst  the  worms  are  small,  and  the  worms 
should  be  led  during  the  first  week  two  or  three 
times  a  day,  by  scattering  the  leaves  over  them. 
The  second  week  the  worms  will  require  food 
three  times  a  day,  the  third,  fourth  arid  fifth,  it 
should  be  given  them  as  fast  as  it  is  either  con- 
sumed or  becomes  withered." 

Having  thus  copied  the  plain  common  sense 
directions  above,  we  would  respectfully  state  that 
Count  Dandolo, — and  those  who  have  either  ab- 
stracted or  transcribed  his  plan,  for  most  all  the 
writers  appear  to  have  done  either  the  one  or  the 
other, — recommends  that, 

"  When  the  Mulberry  leaves  are  about  to  open, 
the  cloths  upon  which  the  eggs  are  fastened, 
should  be  put  into  a  small  pail  of  water,  steeped 
up  and  down,  that  they  may  be  thoroughly  soak- 
ed for  nearly  six  minutes,  which  will  be  sufficient 
to  dissolve  the  gummy  substance  by  which  the 
eggs  are  stuck  to  the  cloth.  The  six  minutes 
elapsed,  the  cloths  must  be  taken  out,  and  the 
water  allowed  to  drip  from  them,  by  holding 
them  up  for  two  or  three  minutes.  They  should 
then  be  spread  upon  the  table,  the  cloth  to 
be  well  stretched,  while  the  eggs  are  separated 
from  the  cloth  with  a  scraper.  The  scraper 
should  not  be  too  sharp,  for  fear  of  cutting  the 
eggs,  neither  too  blunt,  lest  it  should  crush 
them."  And  after  the  eggs  are  off"  the  linen 
cloths,  they  are  to  be  put  into  a  basin  aud  submit- 


43 


ted  to  the  operation  of  another  washing,  ami 
then  drained  either  by  means  of  a  sieve  or  cloth 
and  dried.  &.c. 

We  have  given  this  not  with  a  view  of  recom- 
mending it,  but  merely  of  showing  the  parade 
that  is  thrown  around  a  few  eggs  by  giving  a  fac- 
titious importance  to  what  does  not  deserve  a 
second  thought.  Where  we  would  ask  did  the 
worms  in  their  native  state  procure  their  scra- 
pers  and  persons  to  use  them  ?  Where  did  they 
derive  the  water  to  perform  their  ablutions  in  ? 
W  here  let  us  ask,  has  science  derived  the  know- 
edge  of  the  fact,  that  the  gummy  substance 
which  gives  to  the  eggs  their  cohesive  property, 
should  be  removed?  We  are  not  among  those 
who  would  reject  all  improvements  upon  nature. 
it  we  confess  we  are  of  those  who  believe  that 
all  improvements  tending  to  domesticate  such  in- 
cresting  and  ingenious  artistes  as  are  the  silk 
worms,  should  approach  as  near  their  mode  of  op- 
eration in  their  untamed  condition  as  possible. 

It  may  possibly  be  asked,  as  we  have  set  our 
ace   against  innovations,  where  in  their  native 
ioresls,  did  the  silk  worm  obtain  a  thermometer? 
-By  what  process  did  he  regulate  thtf  ternpera- 
ure  of  the  atmosphere ?     We  answer  that  he  did 
>t  obtain  a  thermometer  any  where;  nor  did  he 
hnd  means  to  regulate  the  temperature   of  the 
atmosphere.      But    these    facts    do    not    in  the 
'east  militate  against  the  soundness  of  our  posi- 
tion, as  from  tin;  difference  in  the  climate  of  that 
joijutry  and  ours,  what  would  be  wholly  super- 
tin^  there,  would  be  absolutely  requisite  here, 
t'ere,  the  equality  of  the  temperature  of  the  at- 
>ospuere,renderssuch  an  instrument  entirely  un- 
necessary—here from  the  ever  changin«  charac- 
Jf  our  climate,  from  hot  to  cold,  from  dry  to 
humid,  it  is  essentially  necessary  to  the  preserva- 
ion  of  their  health  and  the  successful  pro<=ecu- 
tion  of  their  labors  in  all  large  establishments 
e  use  of  fire  in  stoves  or  fire-places  are  for  the 
two  told    purpose  of  maintaining  a  temperature 
ranging  from    70    to    80    during   the  period  of 
batching:  the  eggs,  and  from  65  to  70,  afterwards, 
up  to  the  completion  of  their  toils,  and  to  preserve 
ie  atmosphere  dry.  We  do  not  pretend  to  affirm 
:  worms  cannot  be  successfully  hatched  and 
raised  without  the  aid  of  either  stove,  fire-place 
thermometer:  on  the  contrary,  we  know  thai 
the  Eastern  states  they  have  been  so  raised 
and  are  continued  to  be,  by  probably  a  majority 
the  farmers;  but  we  think  we  are  justified  in 
the  opinion  that  to  ensure  success,  as  we  have  be- 
lore  premised,  to    any  large  establishment,  the 
cultunst  should  be    able  to  create  an  artificial 
temperature  at  all  times,  so  as  to  counteract  the 
deleterious    influence    of    sudden    atmospheric 
transitions,  whether  from  heat  to  cold  or  from 
aridity  to  dampness. 

Jn  maintaining  this  opinion  we  but  consult  na- 
ture, m  the  promotion  of  the  health  and  comfort 


oi  this  most  ingenious  insect,  and  consequently, 
ensure  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  his  labors.     It 
is  affirmed  by  every  writer  that  a  certain  tempera- 
is  necessary  to  be  preserved  during  the  pe- 
riod of  incubation,  and  if  that  be  necessary,  it  can 
[  only  be  successfully  done  in  extensive  laborato- 
ries by   means  of  the  instrument  named.     But 
there  is  also  another  important  object  to  begain- 
!  ed.     It  is  known,  that,  where  large  bodies  are 
'  brought  together  in  the  same  apartment,  an  at- 
mosphere is  generated,  which  if  not  corrected 
will  prove  detrimental  to  their  healthful  exist- 
ence, and  it  is  a  fact  equally  well   known,  that 
there  ^  no  more  efficient  purifying  agent  than 
i  he  silk  worm  when  congregated  together 
m  large  masses  make,  comparatively,  great  de- 
posites  of  noxious  substances,  which,  no  matter 
how  much  cleanliness  may  be  observed,  will  be- 
come fetid  and  fill  the  apartment  with  vapors  of 
an  offensive  and  injurious  character.     It  is  also 
important  to  expel  dampness  whenever  genera- 
ted, and  this  can  only  be  done  by  heat ;  but  then 
as  the  degree  of  heat  must  not  be  pushed  beyond 
the  proscribed  point, an  instrument  is  necessary 
to  designate  that  point.    In  small  establishments, 
the  objects  pointed  out  can  be  attained  without 
the   agency  of  any  SUch  instrument,  as  for  in- 
stance, the  farmer  who  appropriates  but  an  acre 
or  two  to  the  culture,  would  be  able  to  get  aloncr 
without  it,  making  his  feelings  and  judgment  the 
criteria    with   respect   to   the  temperature.      In 
speaking  of  the  necessity  of   preserving  a  dry 
atmosphere,  we  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as 
pushing  it  to  that  point  of  rarification  that  would 
be  offensive  to  a  human  being;  that  is  to  be 
equally  avoided,  and  hence  when  inconvenience 
may  arise  from  that  cause,  the  introduction  into 
the  room    of  a  few  bowls  of  water,  as  is  now 
practiced  in  ordinary  stove  rooms,  will  be  pro- 
er  to  counteract  it.     We   deem   this   explana- 
tion the  more  necessary  as  our  aim  is  to  unfold, 
as  far  as  we  can  arrive  at  them,  the  difficulties  as 
well  as  the  advantages  of  the  culture,  to  the  A- 
mencan  people.     We  shall,  we   trust,  ever  be 
found  too  tenacious  of  our  own  self-respect,  and, 
to  value  the  good  opinion  our  fellow  men,  too 
highly,  to  jeopard  either  the  one  or  the  other  by 
making  misrepresentations  in  this  or  any  other 
branch    of  husbandry,  which  we  believe  could 
not  be  realized;  nor  will  we  through  fear  of  de- 
terring persons  from  entering  into  it,  fail  from 
making  what  we  consider  a  candid  and  manlv 
exposition  of  our  honest  and  sincere  convictions". 
Our  objectis  not  to  get  the  agricultural  communi- 
ty to  adventure  into  this  branch  of  husbandry 
with  their  eyes  shut  to  it  disadvantages— our  de- 
sire is  to  lure  them  to  its  embrace°by  a  candid 
and  open  statement  i,f  facts— we  should  scorn 
ourself,  could  we  bo  influenced  by  other  motives 
—could  we  be  guilty  of  concealment.     We  be- 
lieve that  the  culture  is  destined,  if  well  prose- 


44 


ruled,  to  enrich  those  who  may  engage  in  it,  and 
\ve  feel  it  our  duty  to  deal  in  all  sincerity,  truth, 
and  fairness,  in  whatever  we  may  advance  up- 
on the  subject. 

If  the  stoves  be  employed  to  produce  the  ne- 
cessary temperature,  it  is  Ihought  that  they  should 
not  be  made  of  iron,  because  the  heat  cannot 
be  regulated  so  accurately  therein  ;  but  cf  thin 
bricks,  soapstone,  porcelain,  or  tiles.  The  stoves 
made  at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  of  the  latter 
material,  or  the  porcelain  ones  which  come  from 
France,  at  a  price  of  about  ifjJIO,  would  answer 
well,  and  in  order  that  the  heat  generated 
should  be  equable,  the  fuel  should  be  either 
fanners'  drawn  bark  or  charcoal. 

Count  Dandolo  prescribes  that  the  eggs  be 
hatched  in  a  small,  square,  thick  pasteboard,  or 
thin  board  boxes  or  trays.  For  an  ounce  of  eggs, 
a  box  or  tray  eight  inches  square  is  required,  and 
so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  amount,  and  these 
to  be  numbered.  Besides  these,  he  says,  there 
should  be  wicker  trays  or  boxes  projecting  hori- 
zontally from  the  wall  for  the  boxes  containing 
the  eggs  to  be  placed  in  for  hatching,  a  flat  spoon 
to  stir  the  eggs  well.  This  part  of  his  plan,  is, 
we  think,  multiplying  fixtures  and  magnifying 
difficulties,  without  any  possibility  of  increasing 
the  product  of  the  worms  whatsoever.  Simpli- 
city in  their  treatment,  economy  in  the  use  of 
means,  and  an  approximation  to  nature,  should  be 
the  great  objects  to  be  held  in  view  by  the  Ameri- 
can silk  culturist. 

With  respect  to  the  temperature  of  the  apart- 
ment in  which  the  worms  are  hatched,  it  maybe 
instructive  to  add  the  observations  of  Count  Dan- 
dolo. He  says  : 

"  If  the  temperature  of  the  stove  room  should 
not  reach  64°,  on  the  day  fixed  upon  to  put  in 
the  eggs,  it  is  necessary  to  light  a  little  fire,  that 
it  may  raise  to  that  degree,  which  ought  to  be 
continued  during  two  days.  If  the  thermometer 
indicate  that  the  extericr  air  is  above  64°,  the 
shutters  should  beclosed,  and  the  doors  and  ven- 
tilators opened,  to  create  a  draught  and  cool  the 
stove  room.  The  third  day  the  temperature 
should  be  raised  to  66°,  the  fourth  day  to  689, 
\hefifth  day  to  71°,  the  sixth  day  to  73°,  the 
seventh  day  to  75°,  the  8th  day  to  77°,  the  9th 
day  to  80°,  JOth,  llth  and  12th  days  to  81°. 

The  following  are  the  signs  of  the  speedy  vivi- 
fication  of  the  silk  worm  : 

"The  ash-gray  color  of  the  eggs  grow  bluish  ; 
then  purplish  ;  it  then  again  grows  gray,  with  a 
cast  of  yellowish,  and  finally,  of  a  dingy  white." 

Count  Dandolo  further  remarks  that: 

"When  the  eggs  assume  a  whitish  color,  the 
worm  is  already  formed,  and  with  a  glass,  may  be 
seen  within  the  shell.  The  eggs  should  then  be 
covered  with  white  paper  well  piered  with  holes, 
the  paper  to  be  cut  so  as  to  cover  them  all.  To 
encourage  the  worms  to  come  through  the  holes, 


small  twigs  of  the  Mulberry,  with  hut  few  leaves 
on  them  must  be  placed  on  the  outside  of  the  pa- 
per, the  scent  of  which  attracts  the  worms:  tliey 
crawl  through  the  holes  and  attach  themselves  to 
the  food.  The  number  of  twigs  to  be  increased 
as  fast  as  the  worms  occupy  those  on  the  paper, 
to  prevent  their  gettin^out  of  the  boxes  in  search 
of  food." 

"When  the  worms  are  red  at  their  first  coming 
out,  it  is  a  sign  that  the  eggs  have  either  been 
bad  or  ill  kept  over  winter,or  over  heated,  that  is, 
too  much  forced  when  laid  to  hatch.  Worms  of 
this  color  are  good  for  nothing,  and  should  be 
thrown  away,  since  they  will  not  produce  co- 
coons." 

"Few  worms  appear  the  first  day,  and  if  the 
number  of  them  should  be  inconsiderable,  it  is 
best  to  throw  them  away,  as  it  is  well  not  to  mix 
them  with  later  worms.  If  not  thrown  away  they 
should  be  kept  on  separate  shelves. 

Eggs  which  have  been  scraped  from  the  paper 
on  which  they  were  laid,  should  bestirred  round 
two  or  three  times  a  day.  This  operation  has- 
tens their  coming  forth." 

A  prude.it  cultivator,  says  Count  Dandolo,  has 
done  all  in  his  power,  when,  on  observing  the 
season  favorable,  and  the  bud  of  the  Mulberry 
shoots  in  a  proper  degree  of  forwardness  he  has 
put  his  eggs  into  the  room  for  hatching  ;  and  if 
after  they  are  there,  or  even  after  being  hatched,  a 
sudden  change  of  the  weather  should  take  place, 
and  it  be  desirable  either  to  retard  the  hatching,  or 
to  depressthe  appetite  of  the  worm,  both  or  either 
can  be  effected  by  lowering  the  temperature  of 
the  air  of  the  room,  gradually  to  about  68°. 

Upon  this  Count  Dandolo  remarks: 

"This  cooling  of  the  air  diminishes  the  hun- 
ger of  the  young  silk  worm  by  degrees,  and  with- 
out danger;  and  by  these  means  the  modifica- 
tions are  prevented,  which  at  75°  would  have 
brought  on  the  casting  or  moulting  much  more 
speedily.  At  75°,  the  moulting  is  effected  the 
sixth  day  ;  whilst  at  71°,  it  requires  six  or  seven 
days.  The  second  moulting,  which  at  75°.  is 
wrought  in  four  days,  at  69°  and  71°,  takes  six 
days  for  its  accomplishment.  Thus  by  foresight 
and  prudence,  the  proprietor  will  be  enabled  to 
gain  seven  or  eight  days,  which  prevents  any  ill 
effect  from  the  unfavorableness  of  the  season  ; 
and  this  time  gained,  it  is  evident,  may  be  of  the 
utmost  impoitance." 

We  shall  now  quote  from  the  essays  of  Gideon 
B.  Smith,  Esquire,  his  treatment  of  the  worms 
from  the  hatching  of  the  insect  to  the  comple- 
tion of  the  cocoons.  His  instructions  are  the  re- 
sult of  practice,  backed  by  close  observation  and 
a  sound  discriminating  mind.  With  such  lights 
as  his  guide,  the  culturist  cannot  well  fail  to  pur- 
sue the  business  with  an  enlighted  economy,  and 
to  find  in  it  a  most  interesting  and  profitable  pur- 
suit. 


45 


"  The  period  of  moulting  are,  generally,'abou 
the  7th,  13th,  19th  and  24th  days  of  their  age 
but  these  periods  are  materially  influenced  b) 
the  care  and  attention  bestowed  on  the  worms — 
some  worms  will  begin  to  spin  on  the  25th  day 
while  others  will  delay  their  spinning  even  to 
forty-five  or  fifty  days,  according  as  they  are  wel 
or  ill  attended  to.  At  the  periods  of  moulting 
the  worms  do  not  eat,  and  if  they  all  moult  to 
gether,  no  feed  need  be  given  them ;  but  shoulc 
they  not  be  thus  simultaneous  in  changing  thei 
skins,  those  which  require  food  should  be  sup 
plied,  even  though  the  others  may  be  disturbec 
by  it.  They  are  about  36  hours  shedding  thei 
skins. 

The  ftalians  strenuously  insist  upon  cutting  tin 
leaves  fine,  before  giving  them  to  the  worms 
but,  having  tried  this  plan,  I  found  an  objection 
to  it  which  induced  me  to  reject  it.  When  the 
leaves  are  cut  fine,  the  worms  easily  press  them 
down,  and  they  are  lost,  having  become  a  mere 
carpet  for  the  worms.  I  therefore,  never  cut  the 
leaves  after  the  worms  are  two  weeks  old;  but 
for  several  reasons,  I  prefer  laying  on  the  whole 
leaves,  and  even  the  small  branches.  When  laic 
on  whole,  the  leaves  keep  fresh  till  consumed ; 
especially  when  left  upon  the  small  twigs.  The 
small  branches  have  another  advantage — the 
worms  can  climb,  and  fix  upon  them,  over  and 
under  them,  so  that  the  same  shelf  will  accom- 
modate many  more  than  when  the  leaves  are  cut 
fine  and  they  are  obliged  to  remain  on  a  com- 
mon level  surface.  The  worms  also  prefer  this 
mode,  as  it  approaches  nearer  to  the  nature  oi 
the  limbs  of  the  tree. 

Every  two  or  three  days  the  shelves  should  be 
well  cleared  of  litter  and  excrement,  to  effect 
which  the  worms  may  be  removed  in  the  follow- 
ing manner: — lay  on  either  large  leaves  or  twigs 
with  leaves,  and  as  soon  as  the  worms  attach 
themselves  to  them,  bear  them  to  a  clean  shelf; 
repeat  the  operation  till  all  are  removed.  Some 
lay  fresh  leaves  on  one  side  of  the  shelf,  and 
leave  the  worms  to  go  over  to  them,  and  clear 
off  the  other  side.  I  prefer  the  first  plan.  Very 
few  leaves  will  suffice  for  the  first  ten  days;  a 
dozen,  torn  into  small  pieces  will  be  enough  for 
each  shelf,  the  1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th  days;  double 
the  quantity  the  next  two  days.  However,  it  is 
unnecessary  to  attempt  estimating  the  quantity,  as 
the  intelligent  attendant  will  readily  discover 
what  is  necessary,  and  be  able  at  all  times  to 
guard  against  both  stinting  the  worms  and  waste 
of  leaves.  They  should  always  have  as  much  as 
they  will  consume  and  no  more.  Great  care 
must  be  observed  that  the  leaves  be  perfectly 
free  from  wet,  and  fresh.  When  they  have  been 
kept  some  time,  the  leaves  begin  to  turn  black  or 
dark  colored,  and  should  be  thrown  away.  In 
wet  weather,  the  leaves  may  be  dried  by  taking 


them  into  a  large  room,  spreading  them  out,  and 
occasionally  shaking  them  up. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  to  guard  against 
mice  and  ants ;  mice  devour  them  with  avidity, 
and  the  bite  of  an  ant  is  almost  instant  death  to  the 
worm.  Isolating  the  shelves  from  the  walls  and 
setting  the  feet  in  basins  of  water  will  protect 
them  from  ants;  but  the  access  of  mice  to  the 
room  must  be  cut  off. 

The  success  of  the  crop  depends  upon  the 
cleanliness  of  the  shelves,  and  purity  of  the  air 
in  the  room,  especially  in  hot,  and  more  particu- 
larly in  damp  weather.  If  the  excrement  and 
litter  be  allowed  to  accumulate,  fermentation  and 
putrefaction  soon  commence,  and  the  conse- 
quence will  be  fatal  to  the  worms,  especially  in 
hot,  damp  weather;  besides,  the  worms  at  all 
times  thrive  better  when  the  shelves  are  kept 
clean,  and  nothing  but  fresh  leaves  allowed  to  re- 
main about  the  worms.  To  guard  against  impu- 
rity of  air,  which  is  the  greatest  enemy  the  silk 
worm  has,  a  small  quantity  of  chloride  of  lime 
should  always  be  kept  in  a  plate  in  some  part  of 
the  room.  It  is  a  cheap  and  most  effectual  pre- 
ventive of  this  cause  of  disease  in  worms,  as  well 
as  a  powerful  remedy  for  the  tripes,  and  other  dis- 
eases that  have  become  epidemic.  It  is  generally 
sold  at  the  drug  shops  at  18|  cents  a  pound,  and 
four  pounds  will  be  sufficient  for  the  largest  la- 
boratory. A  couple  of  spoonfuls  may  be  put  in- 
to a  plate  with  about  a  gill  of  water,  and  should  be 
replenished  every  three  days. 

Where  proper  cleanliness  and  due  attention  to 
ventilation   are   observed,  there   is  little  to  be 
dreaded  from  hot  weather.     Nevertheless,  in  ve- 
ry hot  weather  all  the  means  at  hand  should  be 
availed  of  for  the  reduction  of  the  temperature  of 
the  room  ;  for  worms   will  thrive  best  in  mod- 
erate temperature.  But  ice,  or  sprinkling  the  floor 
with  cold  water,  should  never  be  resorted  to,  as  has 
been  recommended;  for  the  vapor  thus  produced 
will  do  more  injury  than  the  heat.     When  conveni- 
ent, the  laboratory  should  be  shaded  with  high  trees 
on  the  south  side.     An  open,  high  piazza  to  shield 
the  south  front  of  the  house  from  the  sun's  rays  will 
also  be  of  service.  Opening;  the  windows  and  doors, 
and  the  ventilators  in  the  ceiling,  will  then  be  all 
that  can  be  done  to  cool  the  room;  and  this  should 
never  be  neglected,  in  hot  weather.     There  is  much 
more  danger  from  cold    than    heat;    and    on    the 
slightest  appearance  of  a  cold  night,  fire  should  be 
made  in  the  fire  places  or  stoves,  and  replenished  as 
often    as    necessary.     The  temperature  should  be 
cept  as  equable  as  possible,  and    sudden  changes 
guarded  against.     For  this  purpose  a  thermometer 
vill  be  useful;  but  the  senses  of  the  attendant  will 
>e  a  sufficient  substitute  if  care  be  observed.     I  do 
[o  not  pretend  to  give  degrees  of  temperature  most 
uitable  for  silk  worms;  for  although  we   can   in- 
irease  the  heat,  it  is  not  easy  to  reduce  it  in  a  large 
oom,  when  the  surrounding  atmosphere  that  sup- 
)lies  the  air  circulating  in  it,  is  of  a  high  tempera- 
ture.    It  may  be  observed  here,  that  the  cool  sensa- 


tion  felt  while  sitting  in  a  current  of  air,  is  no  evi- 
dence of  that  air  or  the  place  we  sit  in  being  of  a 
lower  temperature  than  the  air  of  a  room  where 
faiere  is  no  such  current.     The  air  passing  over  the 
surface  of  our  bodies  carries   off  heat,   and   thus 
causes  the  cold  sensation,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
current  of  air,  that  "feels  cool,"  is  in  many  degrees 
vrarmer   than    our    bodies.     But    silk    worms    are 
not  warm  blooded  animals,  and  of  course   they  do 
not  experience  the  same  relief,  having  no  excess  of 
animal  heat  to  be  carried  off.     Although  many  per- 
sons have  assured  me  that  they   had   lost    many 
worms  by  hot  weather,  I  am  constrained  to  think, 
that  the  heat  was  not  the  sole  cause  of  the  loss,  for  1 
have  never  lost  a  worm  that  I  could  attribute  to  that 
cause.     Hot  weather  will  undoubtedly  cause  the  de- 
struction of  the  whole  of  them,  if  the  litter  and  ex- 
crement be  left  unremoved  ;  and  I  always  suspect 
some  such  want  of  attention  in  every  instance  of  the 
destruction  of  worms  by  hot  weather.     Heat  dees 
not  injure  the  worms  in  their  natural  state,  nor  will 
it  in  their  state  of  domestication,  if  they  are  kept  as 
free  from  filth  as  they  are  on  their  native    trees. 
Keeping  the  shelves  clean,  the  worms  not  too  much 
crowded,  the  air  in  the  room  pure  by  the  use  ol 
chloride  of  lime  and  ventilation,  and  feeding  with 
fresh  dry  leaves,  I  consider  the  best  and  only  preven- 
tives of  any  ill  effects  from  hot  weather. 

Between  the  25th  and  35th  days  of  the  worm's 
age  they  will  show  signs  of  a  disposition  to  spin 
They  will  become  somewhat  of  an  amber  colo 


niently  lie  on  the  papers  may  be  placed  there.  This 
mode    has  the  advantage   of  security  against  ants 
and  mice,  which  are  very  destructive  to  these  insects. 
The  room  should  be  dark,  if  possible,  while  the  in- 
sects are  on  the  papers,   and  each  sheet  should  be 
filled  before  any  are  put  upon  another,  and  as  soon 
a  the  moths  on   one  sheet  are  done  laying  eggs,  it 
hould  then  be   taken  down,  folded,  and  put  into  a 
in  box  in  a  cold  cellar,  uhere  all  the  eggs  must  be 
cept  till  wanted  for  use  next  spring.     The  moths 
are  in   the  form  of  a  grayish  white  butterfly,  and 
generally  begin  to  lay  eggs  in  24  to  36  hours  after 
eaving  the  cocoons.     The  eggs  are.  at  first  of  a  pale 
yellow,  or  somewhat  of  a  sulphur  color,  but  in  three 
days  turn  to  a  light  slate  color,  and  subsequently  to 
a  dull  brownish  slate  color.     When  seen  through  a 
microscope  they  are  speckled.     Those  that  remain 
yellow  have  not  been  fecundated,  and  of  course  are 
worthless.  Each  healthy  female  moth  will  lay  about 
450  eggs,  generally,  handsomely  disposed  and  firmly 
attached  to  the  paper  in  a  circular  form,  the  whole 
covering  a   space  about   the   size    of  a   fifty    cent 
piece. 

Should  the  eggs  be  permitted  to  remain  exposed 
to  the  warm  weather,  they  will  hatch,  and,  unless 
another  crop  be  desired,  they  will  be  lost.  This  is 
the  only  injury  they  are  liable  to  from  warm  wea- 
ther. The  flies  eat  nothing  after  leaving  the  co- 
coons, and  die  in  a  few  days  after  depositing- the 
eggs.  The  tin  box  in  which  the  ejsss  are  directed  to 


about   the  joints   of   the    body,    semi  transparent, 
throw  out  fibres  of  silk  on  the  leaves,  and  wander 
about.     The  brush  for  the  cocoons  should  now  be 
provided.     The  best  and  simplest  that  I  have  been 
able  to  find  is  the  broom-corn.     Clear  it  well  from 
seed,  and  cut  it  from  the  stalk  close  to  the  junction 
of  the  straws:  spread  out  the  top   in  imitation  of  a 
small  tree,  and  set  it  on  the  shelf  with  the  top  press- 
ing against  the  bottom  of  the  upper  shelf  to  hold  it 
in  its  position.     It  may  be  set  in  rows  six  or  eight 
inches   apart,  across  the  shelf,  and  over  the   top 
shelf  an  extra  one  may  be  placed  for  this  purpose. 
The  worms  will  readily  find  and  climb  these  little 
trees  and  spin   their    cocoons  in  them  •,  the  worms 
will  be  four  days  spinning  their  cocoons,  and  they 
will  all  generally  be  finished  on  the  8th  day  after 
they  first  begin — that  is,  all  of  the  same  day's  hatch- 
ing.    The  brush   may  then  be  taken  down,  the  co- 
coons taken  off,  cleared  of  the  loose  tow,  and  pre- 
pared for  reeling. 

The  cocoons  from  which  eggs  are  expected  must 
be  spread  out  in  a  room,  secure  from  mice  and  ants, 
and  in  five  to  ten  days  the  moths  will  come  out  of 
the  cocoons,  when  the  males  and  females  will  couple; 
they  must  then  be  taken  by  the  wings  in  pairs  with- 
out separating  them,  and  placed  upon  sheets  of  pa 
per  disposed  for  their  reception,  where  they  are  to 
remain.  There  is  generally  about  an  equal  number 
of  each  sex.  I  have  found  the  best  mode  for  fixing 
the  paper  for  the  moths  to  lay  on,  as  follows:  stretch 
two  pieces  of  strong  twine  across  the  room  from  vval 
to  wall,  about  two  feet  apart,  and  another  about  a 
fool  over  the  middle  of  these.  Lay  large  sheets  o 
paper  (old  newspapers  will  do)  over  them  and  pii 
them  down  at  each  side  to  the  lower  twine.  The 
sheets  of  paper  will  then  be  in  the  form  of  the  roo 
of  a  house.  As  many  pairs  of  moths  as  can  conve 


be  kept,  is  intended  to  protect  them  from  mice  and 
insects.  The  eggs  should  be  kept  in  a  dry  cellar, 
as  mould  and  mildew  will  injure  them.  There  will 
be  many  double  cocoons,  those  which  have  two  or 
more  worms  in  them ;  these  and  as  many  more  of 
the  others  as  are  wanted  should  be  selected  for 


After  clearing-  the  cocoons  of  the  loose  low,  such 
as  are  intended  for  reeling,  and  cannot  be  wound  off 
immediately,  must  be  subjected  to  some  process  by 
which  the  chrysalis  will  be  killed,  to  prevent  its  per- 
orating the  cocoon.     Heat  ia  most  commonly  ap- 
)lied.     In  Europe  the  modes  of  its  application  are 
arious.     Some  bake  the  cocoous  in  un  oven  about 
jalf  heated  for  bread  ;  others  apply  steam,  and  others 
xpose    them    to  the    rays  of  the  sun   for   several 
lays  during  the  heat  of  the  day.     There  is  danger 
of  scorching  the  silk  in  the  first  mode ;  of  decom- 
)osing  the  fibres,  in  th«  second ;  and,  of  not  perfectly 
accomplishing  the  object  in  the  third.     I  have  found 
the  following  mode  preferable  to  any  other,  as  the 
object  is  perfectly  effected  without  danger  to  the 
siik.  I  put  the  cocoons  into  a  tight  tin  vessel,  with  a 
cover  clo&ely  fitted;  and  put  this  vessel  into  another 
a  little  larger,  containing  such  quantity  of  wafer  as 
will  nearly  fill  it  when  the  other  is  put  into  it;  the  fire 
is  then  applied  and  the  water  kept  boiling  half  an 
hour,  or  more,  according  to  the  size  of  the  vessel 
and  until  the  cocoons  in  the  inner  vessel  shall  have 
become  as  hot  as  the  boiling  water.     The  cocoons 
are  then  spread  out  in  a  dry  room,  that  whatever 
moisture    there  may  be,  may  evaporate.     By  this 
mode,    the    heat   can  never  be  raised    so    high  as 
to  injure  the  silk,  and  th6  fibre  is  not  loosened  by 
moisture;  on  the  contrary,   much    of  the  natural 
moisture  of  the  cocoon  is  dispersed.     After  this  op- 
eration, the  cocoons  are  ready  for  the  reel  or  for  sale. 
All  the  cocoons  that  can  be  reeled  in  the  course  of 


47 


the  first  week  after  they  are  taken  from  the  bush, 
may  be  reeled  without  this  operation;  and  a  con- 
siderable advantage  is  gained  by  thus  reeling  them, 
as  they  unwind  much  easier  than  when  they  have 
been  heated.  Cocoons  intended  for  sale,  or  keep- 
ing on  hand  for  future  reeling,  must  be  secured 
against  mice  and  roaches." 


almost  every  family  clean  out  all  the  rooms  in  the 
house,  except  one  in  which  they  live  during  the  crop 
season ;  the  worms  being  produced,  they  purchase  a 
quantity  of  leaves  and  strew  them  over  the  floor, 
leaving  a  small  space  next  the  wall  that  they  may 
walk  round  and  distribute  the  leaves ;  they  then 


place  the  worms  on  the  leaves,  who  readily  attach 

It  has  been  our  desire  from  the  beginning  to  I  themselves,  and  they  daily  throw  on  such  quantities 
make  our  Manual  a  plain,  practical  treatise,  which  as  experience  teaches  them  will  supply  the  want  of 
could  be  laid  hold  of  by  every  man,  woman  and  child  the  worms,  and  this  they  repeat  until  the  worms  are 
who  could  read-— in  a  word,  which  could  be  under-  ready  to  rise  and  wind  the  cocoons,  without  ever  re- 
stood  and  practised  by  all ;  and  after  reading  every  moving  the  offal  or  straw,  and  frequently  the  pile  of 
thing  within  our  reach,  we  have  selected  the  above  collected  matter  will  reach  the  height  of  three  or 
general  rules  for  the  feeding  of  the  worms,  and  the  four  feet.  When  the  worms  show  symptoms  of 
reader  will  observe,  that  there  is  no  attempt  at  mys  winding,  they  plant  branches  and  bushes  immediate- 
tery ;  no  burying  of  meaning  by  the  unnecessary  ly  over  the  collected  mass,  and  the  worms  rise  on 
multiplication  of  words,  and  to  Mr.  Smith's  plan  these,  the  cocoons  are  formed  and  collected,  and  the 
we  have  nothing  to  add,  save  the  net-work  frames,  rooms  are  then  cleaned  out  and  the  reeling  is  com- 
which  at  his  suggestion  Mr.  Whitmarsh  has  adopt-  menced.  This  manipulation  is  performed  in  the 
ed.  By  the  substitution  of  these  a  great  amount  of  most  clumsy  manner  and  with  the  rudest  machine- 
labor  is  saved,  and  the  means  of  health  promoted,  ry  imaginable,  notwithstanding  which,  they  produce 
by  increasing  the  facilities  of  cleansing  the  worms,  the  finest  silk  in  the  world." 

and  consequently,  of  purifying  the  apartment.  Now   this    Turkish  method  of  attending  to  the 

As  to  the  apportionment  of  food,  that  must,  in  a  great    worms  is  simple  enough  in  all  conscience ;  but  it  is 
measure,  be  left  to  the  discretion  and  judgment  of  so  filthy  as  to  be  repulsive  to  our  very  nature.     The 
the  chief  superintendent;  for  although  it  has  been  re-    Turks,  as  every  body  must  know,  are  proverbial  for 
duced  to  a  certainty,  that  a  thousand  worms  will,  on    their  love   of  ease,  for  their  lazy  disposition,  and 
an  average,  devour  during  the  feeding  season  from    hence  their  system  of  feeding  of  worms  is  formed 
thirty -seven  and  a  half  to  fifty  pounds  of  leaves ;  yet    solely  with  the  view  of  consulting  theirown  idle  hab- 
the  quantity  to  be  progressively  fed  out,  must,  to  a    its ;  but  however  much  we  may  condemn  it  for  its 
considerable  extent,  if  not  altogether,  be  regulated    want  of  cleanliness,  we  may  learn  important  truths1 
by  the  wants  and  necessities  of  the  worms  for  the    from  its  very  defects    and  deformities.     We  may 
time  being.     Their  appetites  must  govern    in  the    learn  this,  that  the  raising  of  silk  worms  is  a  very 
main.     Whatever  quantity  of  leaves  they  consume    simple  thing,  unattended  with  any  difficulty  which 
cleanly,  from  one  feeding  time  to  another,  it  is  to  be    ordinary  industry  and  discernment  may  not  over- 
presumed  has  been  advantageouslyeaten,  and  when-    come,     From  what  we  have  read  and  seen,  we  de- 
ever  it  shall  be  found  that  more  has  been  given  than    duce  these  facts,  that  nothing  is  wanting  to  ensure 
the  worm  can  consume,  the  subsequent  feeding  must    success  to  the  culture — 1C?33  but  room  for  the  worms, 
be  lessened  in  quantity,  while  on  the  other  hand,  if    a  supply  of  food  for  them  to  eat,   regularity,  and 
they  should,  between  those  periods,  be  any  consid-    cleanliness  in  their  feeding ,  proper  ventilation  of  their 
erable    time  without  leaves,  the   ensu  ng   feeding  {apartments,  and  untiring  attention  to  their  wants. 
must  be  increased ;  for  while  it  will  not  do  to  gorge        The  general  rules  laid  down  by  Mr.  Smith  will  be 
the  worm,  neither  will  it  answer  to  keep  him  with-    sufficient  for  most  readers,  but  as  there  may  be  some 
out   food    for  any  length  of  time,  as  abstinence  is    that  would  prefer  to  see  something  with  respect  to 
both  detrimental  to  his  health,  and  injurious  to  the    the  quantities  of  food  to  be  progressively  given,  we 
interest  of  his  feeder.  will  abstract  from  Count  Dandolo's  plan  all  that  we 

In  the  eastern  states,  the  feeding  of  the  worms,  esteem  essential  to  be  known  upon  this  part  of  the 
heretofore,  has  been  carried  on  with  the  least  possi-  business,  and  we  will  here  remark,  that  from  the 
ble  trouble,  and  from  what  we  can  learn,  with,  per-  great  regard  for  exactitude  of  this  distinguished 
haps,  too  little  regard  to  cleanliness,  to  be  followed  in  culturist,  the  utmost  reliance  may  be  placed  in  his 
large  establishments,  for  however  well  such  neglect  statements. 

may  succeed  upon  a  small  scale,  if  you  come  to  car  The  quantity  of  food  is  the  proportion  given  to  the 
ry  it  out  in  a  large  establishment,  much  positive  worms  hatched  from  5  OUNCES  of  eggs,  which,  ac- 
evil  will  ensue  in  the  death  of  the  worms.  Small  |  cording  to  our  reading,  means  100,000  worms,  al- 


bodies  might  exist  under  a  system  of  inattention, 
which  if  followed  in  an  extensive  laboratory,  would 
end  in  the  mortality  of  the  insects,  and  the  pecuniary 
loss  of  the  proprietor. 

In  Turkey,  according  to  Mr.  Rhind,  "the  produc- 
tion of  silk  is  confined  to  cities  or  the  larger  towns, 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  the  Mulberry  tree  is  chiefly 
cultivated ;  those  trees  belong  to  the  Farmers,  or 
proprietors  of  the  ground,  who  do  not  rear  the  worm 
themselves,  but  during  the  crop  season,  the  leaves 
are  collected  by  them  daily  and  carried  into  the  city 
and  sold  in  the  market  in  the  same  manner  as  fruit 
and  vegetables,  in  such  quantities  as  purchasers 
may  require.  At  the  commencement  of  the  season 


lowance  being  made  for  casualties  of  all  descrip- 
tions. 

HEARING    OF    THE     WORMS    IN    THE    FIUST    AGE. 

First  day.  The  worms  should  occupy  a  space  of 
nearly  36  feet  8  inches  square  on  the  wicker  trays 
or  tables.  They  should  this  day  receive  3  1-3  Ibs. 
of  leaves  chopped  small,  dividing  their  meals 
through  the  24  hours  into  four,  at  intervals  of  6 
hours  each.  The  worms  to  be  fed  regularly  four 
times  a  day,  and  not  to  give  them  their  food  all  at 
once.  Care  to  be  taken  in  giving  the  food  to  widen 
the  square  by  degrees. 

Second  day.  On  this  day  6  Ibs.  will  be  needed. 
This  will  suffice  for  the  four  regular  meals,  the  first 


48 


of  which  should  be  the  least,  increasing  them  as  thej 
proceed. 

Third  day.     This  day  12  Ibs.  of  leaves  will  b 
necessary. 

Fourth  day.    This  day  but  6  Ibs.  12  oz.  of  leave 
must  be  given,  as  the  quantity  must  be  decreased,  a 
the  appetite  diminishes :  the  first  meal  2  Ibs.  4oz. 
and  the  other  meals  to  decrease  in  proportion  as  the 
quantity  of  leaves  given  before,  appears  not  to  have 
been  thoroughly    eaten.      It   is   important  as   th 
worms  grow  rapidly  now  that  they  have  plenty  o 
room.     At  the  beginning  of  this  day,  many  of  thi 
silk  worms  begin  shaking  their  heads,  which  indicate 
that  they  feel  overloaded  by  their  covering  or  skins 
Some  of  them  eat  little  but  keep  their  heads  erect 
Towards  the  close  of  this  day,  the  greatest  number 
of  the  silk  worms  appear  torpid  and  eat  no  more.   As 
a  general  rule,  it  may  be  proper  to  apprise  the  cul- 
turist,  that  during  the  time  of  moulting,  the  worms 
must  not  be  disturbed  ;  for  the  process  of  changing 
their  skins  will  be  thereby  interrupted. 

|CJt>The  hurdles  or  trays  should  be  clean- 
ed before  and  after  every  moulting,  until  the 
fourth  age,  once  during  that  age,  before  and  after 
the  fourth  or  last  moulting,  and  every  two  days  dur- 
ing the  fifth  age. 

Fifth  day.  This  day  1 J  pounds  of  leaves  chopped 
small  will  be  sufficient,  to  distribute  whenever  the 
worms  appear  disposed  to  eat. 

Towards  the  end  of  this  day  the  worms  are  torpid  : 
a  few  begin  to  revive. 

The  first  age  of  the  silk  worm  is  generally  accom- 
plished in  five  days,  exclusive  of  the  two  days  occu- 
pied in  bringing  them  forth. 

SECOND    AGE. 

Nearly  73  feet  4  inches  square  of  the  tables  or 
trays,  will  be  necessary  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  worms  from  this  period  to  their  second  moulting. 
The  temperature  should  be  from  73°  to  75°.  The 
insects  should  not  be  lifted  from  their  litter  until 
they  are  nearly  all  revived.  No  harm  will  arise 
from  waiting,  even  though  it  should  be  for  twenty 
or  thirty  hours  from  the  time  the  first  few  began  to 
revive. 

First  day.  For  this  day  9  Ibs.  of  young  tender 
shoots,  and  9  Ibs.  of  Mulberry  leaves,  well  picked 
and  chopped  small. 

The  method  of  reviving  the  worms  is  thus  de- 
scribed. 

When  nearly  all  the  worms  are  roused,  and  be- 
gin moving  their  heads,  and  raising  up  as  if  they 
sought  something,  those  at  the  edge  of  the  paper 
having  already  left  the  litter  on  which  they  had  lain, 
preparation  should  be  made  to  remove  them,  that 
the  sheets  of  paper  may  be  cleaned.  The  worms 
should  be  removed  from  those  sheets  of  paper  first 
when  they  are  perceived  to  be  most  revived  and 
stirring.  Some  shoots  of  the  young  twigs  of  the 
Mulberry  tree,  with  six  or  eight  leaves  on  them 
should  be  put  over  the  silk  worms ;  then  boughs 
should  be  placed,  so  that,  when  spread  out,  there 
may  be  an  inch  or  two  between  them.  When  one 
of  the  sheets  of  paper  are  thus  covered  with  silk 
worms,  another  must  be  begun,  and  so  on  until  all  are 
completed.  Each,  as  filled,  are  to  be  removed  to  a 
clean  tray,  sheet  or  hurdle. 

An  hour  or  two  after  the  worms  have  been  thus 
removed,  they  should  be  given  a  meal  of  3  Ibs. 


of  leaves  chopped  small.  In  the  remainder  of  thia 
day,  the  worms  should  have  in  two  meals,  the  re- 
maining six  pounds  of  chopped  leaves,  with  an  inter- 
val of  six  hours  between  each.  The  hurdles  from 
which  the  silk  worms  were  removed,  will,  of  course 
be  cleaned. 

Second  day.  Thirty  pounds  of  chopped  leaves  to 
be  divided  into  four  portions,  should  be  given  at  in- 
tervals of  6  hours  each ;  the  two  first  meals  less 
plentiful  than  the  succeeding  ones. 

Tliird  day.  This  day  33  Ibs.  of  chopped  leaves 
well  picked  will  be  necessary ;  the  two  first  meals  to 
be  the  largest.  The  leaves  should  be  distributed  in 
proportion  as  they  may  be  wanted,  and  with  atten- 
tion. Towards  evening  some  of  the  worms  will  begin 
to  refuse  to  eat  and  rear  their  heads  up,  indicating 
their  approaching  the  period  of  torpor. 

As  a  general  remark,  it  may  be  observed,  that  as 
the  worms  increase  in  size,  the  space  allotted  to 
them  should  be  enlarged. 

Fourth  day.  Only  9  Ibs.  of  leaves  will  be  neces- 
sary this  day,  as  the  worms  will  sink  into  torpor  and 
shed  their  skins  the  ensuing  day. 

THIRD    AGE. 

On  this  day  15  Ibs  of  the  small  shoots  will  be  ne- 
cessary and  the  same  quantity  of  picked  leaves — the 
temperature  of  the  apartment  from  71°  to  73e  du- 
ring this  age.  Their  removal  to  be  the  same  as  in 
the  previous  age— the  space  for  their  accommoda- 
tion 174  square  feet.  The  15  Ibs.  of  young  shoots 
to  be  the  first  meal  of  the  worms.  When  they  shall 
have  eaten  the  leaves  upon  the  shoots,  give  them  a 
second  meal  of  74  Ibs.  of  leaves,  and  the  remainder 
:o  be  given  at  an  interval  of  six  hours. 

Second  day.  This  day  90  Ibs.  of  picked  leaves 
chopped  will  be  needed,  the  two  first  meals  the 
smallest. 

Third  day.  This  day  97  Ibs.  of  leaves  are  to  be 
jiven,  the  two  first  the  largest  meals. 

Fourth  day.  This  day  only  about  52i  Ibs.  of 
shopped  leaves  will  be  requisite,  as  the  appetite  of 
he  worms  always  decrease  immediately  preceding 
heir  becoming  torpid.  The  first  meal  to  be  the 
argest  and  so  on  to  the  fourth,  that  being  the  last. 

Fifth  day.  To-day  only  27-lbs.  of  picked  leaves 
must  be  given  them.  If,  however,  they  appear  not 
o  have  enough,  more  must  be  given  them.  They 
>ecome  torpid  this  day. 

Sixth  day.  On  this  day  the  worms  arouse  from 
heir  torpor  and  accomplish  their  third  age. 

FOURTH   AGE. 

The  worms  during  this  period  should  occupy  a 
pace  of  about  412  feet  square — the  temperature 
tiould  be  from  68  to  71. 

First  day.  On  this  day  374  Ibs.  of  young  shoots 
nd  60  Ibs.  of  picked  leaves  will  be  needed.  After 
ic  worms  consume  the  leaves  on  the  young  shoots, 
ley  should  be  given  SO  Ibs.  of  leaves,  and  when 
icse  are  consumed  they  should  have  the  other  30 

)S. 

Second  day.  165  Ibs.  of  leaves  must  be  given  to- 
ay ;  the  two  first  meals  the  lightest  and  the  last  the 
most  copious: 

Third  day.  225  Ibs.  of  leaves  to  day ;  the  two 
rst  meals  the  most  plentiful ;  the  last  meal  to  be 
bout  75  Ibs. 

Fourth  day.  255  Ibs.  of  leaves  to-day;  the  three 
rst  meals  75  Ibs.  each,  the  4th  the  remainder. 


Fifth  day.  No  more  than  128  Ibs.  of  leaves  to- 
day ;  the  first  meal  to  be  the  largest.  The  worms 
become  torpid  to-day,  and  therefore,  the  leaves 
should  only  be  distributed  on  such  of  the  hurdles, 
where  the  worms  are  perceived  not  to  be  torpid. 

Sixth  day.  35  Ibs.  of  leaves  are  enough  for  to- 
day, to  be  fed  to  such  worms  as  may  require  it. 

Seventh  day.  The  worms  rouse  on  this  day  and 
accomplish  their  fourth  age. 

FIFTH    AGE. 

First  day.  The  laboratory  should  uniformly  have 
63°  to  7.0°  of  heat — and  occupy  a  space  of  917 
square  feet.  After  the  fourth  moulting,  the  leaves 
should*  consist  of  the  full  grown  leaves  of  the  old 
trees.  The  hurdles  must  be  cleaned  every  two  days 
during,  this  age.  They  must  have  180  Ibs.  of  leaves, 
90  Ibs.  the  first  meal,  the  other  90  Ibs.  to  be  divided 
into  2  meals  at  interval  of  6  hours  each. 

Second  day.  Two  hundred  and  seventy  pounds 
of  leaves  to-day  ;  the  first  feed  52  Ibs.,  the  other 
three  more  plentiful,  the  last  being  97  Ibs. 

Tliird'diiy.  The  worms  will  require  420  Ibs.  to- 
day, to  be  divided  into  four  feeds;  the  first  should  be 
of  77  Ibs.  of  leaves,  the  last  feed  should  be  the  lar- 
gest, and-of  about  120  Ibs.  of  leaves. 

Fourth  day.  To-day  they  require  540  Ibs.,  the 
first  feed  120  Ibs.  and  the  last  150  Ibs.,  the  other 
two  135  Ibs.  each. 

Fifth'day,  810  Ibs  of -picked  leaves  to  be  given 
the  worms  this  day.  The  first  feed  150  Ibs.,  (he 
last  210'lbs:,  and1  besides  the  regular  four  meals-, 
should  the  worms  devour  the'tr  apportionment  in 
less  than  an  hour  and  a  half;  they  should  receive 
some  leaves  in  the  intermediate  time,  and  should  they 
appear  to  require  more  food  than  the  designated  quan- 
tity, they  must  have  it,  as  it  is  important  to  give 
them  whatever  they  will  eat  with  avidity. 

Sixth  day.  The  worms  must  have  975  Ibs.  of 
picked  leaves  to-day,  to  be  divided  into  five  feeds; 
the  last  of  whrch  should  be  the  most  plentiful.  If 
the  worms  feed  voraciously  at  this  period,  and  it  is 
difficult  to  limit  the  amount,  the  culturist  will,  if  it 
appears  to  him  necessary,  give  an  extra  or  interme- 
diate feed. 

Seventh  day.  The  worms  will  require  900  Ibs. 
of  loaves  this  day;  the  first  meal  should  be  the  lar- 
gest, and  those  following  should  be  diminished  ; 
and  should  intermediate  meals  be  required,  they 
must  be  given,  as  it  will  not  do  to  let  the  worms  suf- 
fer now.  They  this  day  attain  their  largest  size  and 
greatest  weight. 

Eighth  day.  This  day  660  Ibs.  of  leaves  must  be 
given  in  four  meals;  tire  first  of  which  to  consist  of 
210  Ibs.  of  leaves. 

Ninth  day.  495  Ibs.  of  leaves  to  be  distributed  to- 
day, as  it  may  be  wanted. 

Tenth  day.  Two  hundred  and  forty  pounds  of 
leaves  to  be  given  to-day  as  may  be  required.  The 
hours  of  feeding  however,  to  be  left  altogether  to 
the  discretion  of  the  culturist,  as  it  is  impossible  to 
anticipate  the  peculiar  necessities  of  the  worms  this 
day  ;  and  it  is  equally  difficult  to  ascertain  whether 
some  of  the  worms  may  not  require  feeding  the  en- 
suing day. 

This  last  day  they  attain  perfection ,  which  may  be 
ascertained  by  the  following  indications : 

1st.  When,  on  putting  some  leaves  on  the  wick- 


them,  and  rear  their  heads  as  if  in  Jeafch  for  some- 
thing else. 

2d.  When  on  looking  at  them  horizontally,  (lie 
light  shines  through  them,  and  they  appear  of  * 
whitish  yellow,  transparent  color. 

3d.  When  numbers  of  the  worms  which,  were 
fastened  to  the  inside  of  the  edges,  and  straightened, 
now  get  upon  the  edges,  and  move  slowly  along,  in- 
stinct teaching  them  to  seek  change  of  place. 

4th.  When  numbers  of  worms  leave  the  centre  of 
the  wickers,  and  try  to  reach  the  edges,  and  crawl 
upon  them. 

5th.  When  their  skins  become  wrinkled  about 
the  neck,  and  their  bodies  have  more  softness  to  the 
touch  than  heretofore,  and  feel  like  soft  dough. 

6th.  When  their  rings  draw  in,  and  their  green- 
ish color-changes  to  a  deep  golden  hue. 

7th.  When  in  taking  a  silk  worm  in  the  hand,  and 
looking  through  it,  the  whole  body  has  assumed 
the  transparency  of  a  ripe  yellow  plum.  Whr-n 
these  signs  appear  in  any  of  the  insect*,  every  thing 
should  be  prepared  for  their  rising,  that  those  worn.sr 
which  are  ready  to  rise,  may  not  lose  their  strength 
and  silk  in  seeking  for  the  support  they  require. 

GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS     AND     RULES. 

The  reader  will  have  perceived  that  to  each  day 
of  the  feeding  season,  a  given  quantity  of  leaves 
has  been  allotted  by  the  diary  above.  This  quanti- 
ty in  general  will,  doubtless,  prove  correct ;  but  then 
the  judicious,  observing  culturist,  must  not  rely. on 
these  prescriptive  aHowances,  but  exercise  his  own 
judgment  from  day  to  day,  with  respect  both  to  the 
quantity  of  leaves  to  be  given,  and  the  time  when, 
the  worms  should  be  fed.  Circumstances  over 
which  he  can  have  no'  control,  may  operate  to 
make  the  appetites  of  the  worms  keener  at  one  time 
thin  at  another  \  this  will  be  indicated  by  the  avidi- 
ty with  which  they  will  consume  their  food.  When- 
ever theculturist  discovers  that  the  worms  have  eaten 
all  the  leaves  given  them,  sooner  than  usual,  he 
must  give  them  an  additional  supply  to  stay  their  ap- 
petites till  their  regular  hour  of  feeding,  as  it  is  in- 
jurious to  let  them  remain  for  a  long  time  without 
nutrition. 

The  culturist  will  also  regulate  the  space  occupied 
by  the  worms  on  the  feeding  shelves,  as  they  may 
grow  in  size,  it  being  a  desirable  object  always  to 
give  them  ample  room.  As  we  have  before  urged 
upon  his  consideration,  he  will'at  all  times  take  care 
to  have  the  apartment,  of  a  large  establishment,  of  tl.e 
proper  temperature,  as  much  depends  upon  it  for  the 
success  of  the  labors  of  his  worms;  a  sudden  transi- 
tion from  heat  to  cold,  as  well  as  dampness,  injuri- 
ously  affect  them. 

While  care  must  be  taken  not  to  let  the  worms 
remain  too  long  without  food,  over  feeding  must  be 
equally  guarded  against.  This  being  the  case,  the 
sensible  culturist  will  at  once  perceive  the  necessity 
for  bringing  his  own  powers  of  discrimination  and 
observation  into  play,  and  that,  therefore,  all  that 
the  teacher  can  do  is  to  give  general  rules,  leaving 
their  application  and  modification  with  the  culturist. 
It  may  be  laid  down  as  an  unerring  principle,  that 
the  more  leaves  the  worms  consume  with  avidity, 
and  in  a  healthful  condition,  the  more  silk  will 
they  yield.  Count  Dandolo  recommends  chopping 
of  the  leaves  throughout  the  whole  period  of  feed- 


ers, the  insects  get  upon  the  leaves  without  eating  ing;   Mr.  Smith,  however,  and  other  American  feed- 
7 


50 


ers,  think  it  wholly  unnecessary  after  the  two  first 
weeks. 

During;  the  time  of  moulting:  or  changing  of  their 
skins,  the  worms  must  not  be  disturbed. 

The  hurdles,  or  shelves  on  which  the  worms  are 
fed,  should  be  cleaned  before  and  after  every  moul- 
ting, until  the  fourth  age,  and  then,  as  we  have  be- 
fore urged,  once  during  that  age,  before,  and  after, 
the  fourth  or  last  moulting,  and  every  two  days 
during  the  fifth  age. 

The  worms  of  different  ages  should  be  fed  on 
shelves  by  themselves,  as  those  of  unequal  ages  and 
inequality  of  sizes,  do  not  thrive  so  well  when  pro- 
miscuously fed  together. 

Care  must  he  observed  in  picking  the  leaves  for 
the  worms  during  their  two  first  ages,  such  as  pick- 
ing off  the  twiss  and  stalks  of  the  leaves,  and  to 
•clean  them  of  all  hard  and  useless  parts. 

As  a  general  rule  it  may  be  proper  to  remark, 
that  the  chief  superintendent  will  always  be  able  to 
ascertain  whether  a  healthful  atmosphere  be  pre- 
vailing in  the  apartment,  by  the  fact,  that  if  it  be  so, 
he  will  be  able  to  breathe  as  freely  in  the  laboratory 
as  in  the  open  air,  and  feel  no  other  difference  than 
what  may  arise  from  the  heat  in  the  interior  apart- 
ment. When  any  difficulty  of  breathing  exists,  it 
should  be  remedied,  and  may  be  easily  done  by  the 
admission  of  fresh  air  from  without,  and  by  burning 
some  straw  or  shavings  in  the  apartment.  The 
burning  of  shavings,  in  all  cases  where  the  air  of  the 
room  is  damp,  is  recommended,  as  from  the  brisk- 
ness of  the  fire,  it  much  sooner  distributes  its  heat 
through  the  apartment,  and  thus  corrects  the  humid 
condition  of  the  atmosphere. 

The  culturist  will  not  omit  to  keep  plates  of  chlo- 
ride of  lime,  say  three  or  four,  distributed  through 
the  apartment,  as  it  is,  possibly,  one  of  the  best  cor- 
rectors of  impure  air  wilhtn  the  power  of  science  to 
apply,  and  therefore  eminently  promotive  of  health. 

While  the  sun  is  pouring  its  rays  upon  the  win- 
dows of  tho  laboratory,  the  shutters  should  be  closed, 
the  ventilators  of  the  apartment  kept  open.  The 
windows  also,  to  be  kept  open  from  evening  till  sun- 
rise, unless  the  weather  should  be  very  damp  or  wet. 

PREPARATION  FOR  FORMING  THE   COCOON  HEDGE,  &C. 

With  respect  to  the  accommodation  of  (he  worms 
with  conveniences  for  spinning  their  cocoons,  we 
would  barely  refer  the  reader  to  Mr.  Smith's  plan, 
to  be  found  in  page  46,  with  (hese  additional  remarks  : 
that  should  the  culturist  adopt  the  net  work  frame, 
for  the  purpos'1,  brush-wood  of  all  kinds  will  be  su- 
perfluous. In  Europe  bundles  of  twigs  of  chesnut, 
hickory,  oak  or  of  birch,  such  as  brooms  are  made 
of,  are  used.  As  soon  as  it  is  observed  that  the 
worms  want  to  rise,  the  faggots  or  brush-wood 
should  be  put  against  the  inside  wall  above  the  trays, 
of  the  most  convenient  size, — leaving  fifteen  inches 
between  each  bundle  or  faggot.  The  twigs  or  top 
branches  of  the  bundles  should  touch  the  lower  part 
of  the  tray  above  that  on  which  it  is  placed,  and 
by  being  bent  down  by  the  tray  above,  form  a 
species  of  arch,  to  be  given  such  an  angle  or  incli- 
nation as  not  to  be  too  sharp  to  prevent  the  worms 
from  retaining  their  position  firmly  with  ease.  The 
branches  shoHld  be  spread  out  somewhat  like  fans, 
BO  as  to  permit  the  air  to  penetrate  freely.  Before 


hurdles  or  trays  should  be  well  cleansed,  and  the 
litter  removed  out  of  the  laboratory.  The  cabins 
or  arches  formed  as  above  directed  should  be  about 
two  feet  from  one  to  the  other.  When  the  cabins 
or  arches  are  nearly  laden,  should  there  remain  any 
silk  worms  on  the  trays,  shelves  or  hurdles,  a  small 
branch  may  be  put  against  them,  and  thus  prevent 
their  lying  too  thick  together. 

Two  things  are  particularly  to  be  attended  to: 
the  first  is,  to  put  those  worms  near  the  cabins  or 
arches,  which  are  perceived  to  be  ready  to  rise; 
and  the  second  is,  to  give  a  few  leaves  to  those 
worms  that  are  still  inclined  to  eat.  It  will,  therefore, 
be  necessary  in  a  large  establishment  to  place  this 
part  of  the  business  in  charge  of  a  careful  person  or 
two,  as  long  as  the  worms  feel  a  disposition  to  eat; 
if  but  a  mouthful,  they  should  be  indulged.  It  often 
happens  that  after  the  great  majority  of  the  worms 
have  risen,  that  a  portion  will  remain  on  the  hurdles 
without  manifesting  any  disposition  either  to  eat  or 
rise,  appearing  motionless.  These  should  be  re- 
moved to  a  clear,  dry  place,  where  they  may  enjoy 
a  temperature  of  73°,  and  have  fresh  leaves  distri- 
buted over  them,  when  they  will  speedily  revive  and 
descend  and  weave  their  cocoons.  If  they  should 
need  it,  bandages  of  straw  might  be  placed  through 
the  branches  to  act  as  couches  or  supports  to  the 
more  feeble  worms. 

As  soon  as  the  worms  have  all  risen,  the  hurdles 
must  be  cleansed  without  delay. 

When  the  worms  manifest  a  disposition  to  rrse, 
the  temperature  of  the  laboratory  should  be  careful- 
ly maintained  between  63°  and  7'1°,  as  any  violent 
agitation  of  the  air,  or  sudden  change  at  this  par- 
ticular period  is  detrimental  to  the  worms.  Care 
also  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  air  dry;  and  the 
chloride  solution  well  kept  up.  Worms  which  may 
fall  after  having  risen,  should  be  placed  in 
another  situation  among  the  more  feeble  ones.  All 
diseased  and  dead  worms  should  be  removed  imme- 
diately, and  all  offal  should  be  also  removed,  as  noth- 
ing tends  more  readily  than  a  viliated  atmosphere 
to  occasion  a  fermentation  of  the  dirt  and  leaves. 
The  due  observance  of  cleanliness,  purification  of 
the  room,  and  equable  circulation  of  air,  contribute 
no  less  towards  the  health  of  the  worms,  than  to  the 
profit  of  (he  culturist.  A  too  dry,  or  too  warm 
atmosphere,  are  both  to  be  avoided,  as  the  tenden- 
cy of  each  is  to  dry  up  the  worms  and  produce-con- 
traction of  the  skins. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here,  to  emphatically  state, — 
the  worms  must  have  sufficient  room  to  perform 
their  labors  in  ;  they  must  be  regularly  fed,  kept 
clean,  and  the  air  of  their  apartment  preserved  alike 
from  excess  of  cold  or  heat,  or  from  too  much  aridi- 
ty or  dampness — in  a  word,  cleanliness  and  com- 
fort must  be  consulted,  and  when  these  shall  have 
been  attended  to,  the  whole  mj'stery  of  profitably 
feeding  worms,  will  have  been  not  only  fully  com- 
prehended, but  mastered. 

VARIOUS    STAGES    AND    APPEARANCES    OF    THE   WORMS. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  5th  day  the  worms  are 
torpid  :  a  few  will  begin  to  revive. 

After  the  first  moulting,  the  silk  worm  is  of  a  dark 
ash  color  and  shows  motion  :  the  rings  that  compose 


the  worms  mount  for  spinning  their   cocoons,  the  its  body  stretch  and  shrink  more  freely  than  before. 


51 


The  worms  when  first  hatched  take  56,626  to  make 
an  ounce;  after  the  first  moulting  3,840  are  sufJti- 
cient  to  make  up  that  weight ;  thus  in  six  days  the 
worm  increases  fourteen  times  its  own  weight :  at 
first  it  is  but  the  twelfth  of  an  inch  long.  On  the 
eighth  day  it  becomes  torpid. 

On  the  9th  day,  the  worm  becomes  of  a  light  gray, 
the  hair  hardly  to  be  perceived  by  the  naked  eye, 
and  becomes  shorter;  the  muzzle,  which,  in  the 
first  age,  was  very  black,  har.J  and  scaly,  becomes 
immediately  upon  moulting  white  and  soft;  but  af- 
terwards, again  grows  shining  and  black  as 
before.  As  the  insect  grows  older,  at  each  moul- 
ting, its  muzzle  hardens  ;  because  it  needs  to  saw 
and  bite  larger  and  older  leaves.  Its  size  is  in- 
creased to  half  an  inch,  and  part  become  roused  on 
this  day  and  part  on  the  10th.  On  the  14th  day 
they  go  into  torpor  again;  just  preceding  this  state, 
the  insect  seeks  free  space  to  slumber  in,  rearing  its 
head  upwards.  When  on  the  point  of  sinking  into 
torpor,  they  completely  void  all  excrementitious 
matter,  and  there  remains  in  their  intestinal  tube  a 
yellow  lymph  alone.  When  the  worms  prepare  for 
the  3d  and  4th  moulting,  the  ventilators  must  be 
opened. 

On  the  15th  day,  the  worms  begin  to  rouse,  and 
thus  accomplish  the  third  agei  The  head  and  body 
are  much  enlarged  since  the  casting  of  the  skin. 

On  the  20th  day,  the  worms  become  torpid  :  rouse 
on  the  22d  day.  After  this  moulting,  they  are  of  a 
darker  color,  grayish  with  a  red  cast,  but  continue  to 
whiten. 

By  the  30th  day  of  their  being  fed,  the  worms  be- 
gin to  advance  towards  maturity,  which  may  be 
perceived  by  their  yellow  color,  which  increases 
from  ring  to  ring.  Their  backs  begin  to  shine,  and 
the  rings  lose  their  dark  green  color.  The  ad- 
vance to  maturity  is  also  evinced  by  diminution  of 
bulk,  and  by  their  seeking  to  fix  themselves  on  the 
edge  of  the  shelves  or  hurdles,  to  void  Ihe  sub- 
stances with  which  they  are  loaded.  When  these 
signs  are  apparent,  the  offal  and  excrement  must  be 
cleaned  off'  and  removed,  light  fires  raised,  and  the 
apartment  fumigated. 

On  the  30th  day,  the  yellow  hue  of  the  silk 
worms  grows  deeper,  their  backs  shine  more,  and 
in  some,  the  rings  assume  a  golden  appearance,  the 
uiuzzle  becomes  a  brighter  red. 

On  the  32d  day,  they  generally  attain  perfection, 
which  may  be  known  by  the  following  indications : 

1.  When  on  putting  leaves   on  the   shelves  the 
worms  get  on  them  without  eating  them. 

2.  They  appear  of  a  whitish  yellow,  transparent 
color. 

3.  The   worms  get  upon   the    edges   and  move 
slowly  along,  instinct  urging  them  to  seek  a  change 
of  place. 

4.  Their  rings  draw  in,  and  their  greenish  color 
becomes  a  deep  golden  hue. 

Their  skins  become  wrinkled  about  the  neck,  and 
their  bodies  have  more  softness  to  the  touch  than 
heretofore,  and  feel  like  soft  dough. 

6.  In  looking  through  the  worm,  the  whole  body, 
it  will  be  seen,  has  assumed  the  transparency  of  a 
ripe  yellow  plum. 

When  these  signs  are  manifest,  it  is  time  for  them 
to  mount. 


VARIOUS  QUALITIES    OP    COCOONS, 

Dandolo  says  the  cocoons  may  be  divided  into  two 
general  heads  or  classes  ;  the  white  and  the  yellow.  In 
the  yellow  we  meet  with  all  the  shades  from  a  bright 
yellow,  diminishing,  at  last,  to  while  :  some  few  are  a 
pale  green. 

There  are  he  says  nine  different  qualities,  which 
he  thus  describes : 

1.  The  good  cocoons  arc  those  which  are  brought  to 
perfection  and  are  strong,  hard,  of  a  line  grain,  and  but 
little  or  riot  at  all  spotted. 

2.  The  pointed  cocoons  arc  those  of  which  one  of  the 
extremities   rises   up    in  t*    point,    uno  are  difficult   to 
reel,    because    when   the   thread  comes    round  to  the 
hole,  it  is,  of  consequence,  broken,  and  the  whole  con- 
tains nothing  but  ends. 

3.  The  cacalons  are  a  little  larger  than  the  others  ; 
yet  they  do  not  contain  more  silk,   because  their  con- 
texture is  not  so  strong. 

4.  The  doupion,  or  double  cocoons,  are  so  called,  be- 
cause they  contain  two,  and  sometimes  three  worms. 
They  interlace  their  threads  and  make  the  silk  called 
doupion. 

5.  The  soufflons  are  imperfect  cocoons,  the  contexture 
of  which  is  loose,  sometimes  to  that  degree  that  they 
are  transparent,  and  bear   the  same   proportion  to  a 
good  cocoon,  as  a  gauze  to  a  satin.     These  cannot  be 
wound. 

6.  The  perforated  cocoons   are    so   called,   because 
they  have  a  hole  at  one  end  ;  for   which   reason  they 
cannot  be  wound. 

1.  The  calcined  cocoons  are  those  in  which  the  worm, 
after  the  formation  of  the  cocoon,  is  attacked  with  a 
sickness,  which  sometimes  petrifies  it,  and  at  other 
times,  reduces  it  to  a  fine  white  powder,  without  in  the 
least  damaging  the  silk.  On  the  contrary,  these  co- 
coons produce  more  silk  than  the  others,  because  the 
worms  are  lighter.  They  are  to  be  distingusbed  by  the 
noise  the  petrified  worm  makes  when  the  cocoon  is  sha- 
ken. 

8.  The  good  choqueltcs  consist   of   those  cocoons   m 
which    the  worm  dies    before  it  is   brought    to    per- 
fection.    They  can   be   distinguished  from  the  others, 
because  they  do  not  rattle  when   shaken.     They   pro- 
duce as  fine  silk  as  the   others;  but  should  be  wound 
separately,  as  they   are  subject  to   furze  out,  and  the 
silk  is  neither  of  as  bright  a  color,  nor  so  strong  as  the 
rest. 

9.  The  bad  choquelte  is  composed  of  defective  cocoons, 
spotted  or  rotten  :  many  of  them  may  be  wound  togeth- 
er, but  make  very  foul,  bad  silk  of  a  blackish  color. 

HOW    TO   JUDGE    A    COCOON. 

To  judge  whether  a  cocoon  be  good,  observe  if  it  be 
firm  and  sound  :  if  it  has  a  firm  grain,  and  the  two 
ends  round  and  strong  and  capable  of  resisting  pressure 
between  the  thumb  and  the  finger.  The  cocoons  of  a 
bright  yellow,  yield  more  silk  than  the  others,  because 
they  have  more  gum.  Pale  cocoons  leave  less  gum, 
lose  less  in  winding,  and  take  a  better  white  or  pale 
blue. 

GATHERING    OF    THE    COCOONS. 

Strong  healthy  worms,  in  three  days  and  half 
from  their  time  of  moulting,  will  complete  their  cc- 
coons,  and  this  period  may  be  shortened  by  increas- 
ing the  temperature  of  the  apartment.  On  the 
other  hand  their  labors  are  prolonged  by  a  colder 
temperature  than  has  been  fixed,  as  also  by  feeble 
health.  Transitions  from  heat  to  cold,  as  well  as  a 
vitiated  atmosphere  and  sudden  draughts  of  wind  be- 
fore the  cocoons  are  sufficiently  advanced  to  afford 
them  shelter,  are  injurious.  The  cocoons  will  be 


fit  to  be  taken  off  from  the  7lh  to  the  10th  day  I 
The  gathering  must  be  commenced  below  and  con- 
tinued upwards,  and  the  cocoons  that  feel  soft  should 
be  kept  by  themselves.  \Vben  the  cocoons  are  de- 
tached. the  down  or  floss,  in  which  the  silk  worms 
hare  formed  the  cocoons,  should  be  taken  off. 
The  floss  silk  ought  also  to  be  collected  and  kept 
separate. 

CHOOSUTO    TUB     COCOONS     FOR    THE    PBODCCTIOJf    OF 
EGOS. 

About  two  ounces  of  eggs,  which  will  yield,  allow- 
ances being  made  for  accidents,  40,000  worms. 
The  small  cocoons  of  a  straw  color,  with  hard  ends 
and  fine  webs,  and  which  are  a  little  depressed  in 
the  middle,  as  if  tightened  by  a  ring  or  circle,  are 
to  be  preferred.  There  are  no  certain  signs  to  dis- 
tinguish the  male  from  the  female  cocoons;  the 
best  known  are  the  following  : 

The  smaller  cocoons,  sharp  at  one  or  both  ends, 
and  depressed  in  the  middle,  generally  produce  the 
males  ;  the  round  full  cocoons,  without  ring  or  de- 
pression in  the  middle,  usually  contain  the  females. 
Ac,  however,  all  marks  may  fail,  an  extra  number  of 
the  best  should  be  taken  for  eggs,  and  when  the 
moths  come  out,  the  males  and  females  being  easily 
distinguished,  an  addition,  should  there  be  a  defi- 
ciency of  either  sex,  can  be  made,  from  the  double 
cocoons,  to  the  defective  side-  In  the  seed  cocoons, 
however,  the  double  ones  are  to  be  avoided,  and  on- 
ly to  be  resorted  to,  to  supply  a  deficiency. 

By  shaking  the  cocoon  close  to  the  ear,  we  may 
generally  ascertain  whether  the  chrysalis  be  alive. 
If  it  be  alive  and  loosened  from  the  cocoon,  it  yields 
a  sharp  sound,  when  dead  it  yields  a  dumb  one, 
and  is  more  confined  in  the  cocoon. 

If  white  silk  be  desired,  the  choice  must  be  made 
among  the  white  cocoons  exclusively.  The  cocoons 
intended  for  seed  should  be  stript  of  the  floss,  that 
the  moth  may  not  be  embarrassed  when  it  first  ap- 
pears, and  the  cocoons  thus  sorted,  should  be  laid 
separate.  It  is  recommended  by  some  writers,  that 
the  selection  of  cocoons  for  seed  should  be  from 
among  those  thai  were  spun  the  earliest,  but  we 
hardly  think  that  can  be  considered  essential.  The 
cocoons  when  selected  for  seed  should  be  spread  out 
thin,  and  in  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  days  the 
moths  vill  come  out,  when  they  should  be  placed  in 
pairs,  male  and  female,  on  the  paper  arches  to  be 
formed  across  the  room,  as  described  by  Mr.  Smith 
in  page  46,  and  there  permitted  to  couple  and  lay 
eggs.  Each  healthy  female  will  lay  about  450 


While  the  moths  are  coupling  they  should  not  be 
disturbed  by  noise,  but  be  permitted  to  enjoy  each 
other's  society  in  quiet;  the  room  should  be  dark- 
ened. and  its  temperature  kept  at  from  66°  to  73* 

If  there  be  an  excess  of  males,  they  must  be 
thrown  away  ;  if  of  females,  males  must  be  allottee 
to  them,  which  have  already  been  in  a  state  of  uni- 
on. The  male  ought  not  to  remain  united  more  than 
six  hours  ;  after  the  expiration  of  that  time  they 
should  be  gently  separated.  As  the  males  are  dis- 
united, they  must  be  pat  upon  the  frame  to  be  in 
readiness  to  attend  to  ihe  calls  of  any  females  that 
may  require  being  served  :  the  preference,  of  course 
to  be  given  to  the  most  rigorous. 


KILLING  OF  THE  CHRYSALIDS. 

The  killing  of  the  chrysalids  must  be  attended  to  as 
<oon  after  the  scathe  ringoft  he  cocoons  a*  possible,  to 
jrevent  their  being  pierced  by  the  moth,  whereby 
he  web  would  be  injured.  Each  silk  pod  consists 
of  one  single  thread,  the  length  of  which  varies  from 
900  to  1,300  feet.  We  have  already  given  Mr. 
Smith's  plan  for  effecting  this  part  of  the  process, 
and  we  will  now  state  the  several  other  modes  pursu- 
ed in  Europe, 

The  Italian  method  simply  consists  in  exposing1 
the  grub  in  the  cocoons  to  the  ardent  heat  of  the 
sun,  during  three  days,  when  the  thermometer  is 
at  SS«  2  Fahr.  from  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  until  4 
o'clock,  P.  M 

The  French  plan  is  to  put  the  cocoons  into  an 
oven  in  a  bag,  with  the  temperature  standing  at  SS* 
2  Fahr.  The  oven  being  shut  and  the  bags  fre- 
quently stirred,  the  grubs  are  killed  within  4  hours. 

In  Germany  they  are  killed  by  steam  proceeding 
from  boiling  water.  A  kettle  of  boiling  water  being 
prepared,  fixed  in  the  wall,  a  clean  basket  is  then 
placed  over  it  upon  two  pieces  of  wood ;  cover  the 
basket  with  three  or  four  folds  of  woollen  cloths  that 
the  steam  may  penetrate  completely.  The  water 
in  the  pot  must  be  kept  boiling  for  three  hours, 
which  will  be  sufficient  to  kill  the  chrysalids,  which 
can  be  ascertained  by  opening  one  of  the  cocoons. 
They  must  then  remain  undisturbed  until  the  fol- 
lowing day,  when  they  will  have  been  sufficiently 
hardened  to  be  removed,  being  then  fit  for  reeling 
or  for  sale.  Suffocating  with  brimstone,  or  tur- 
pentine oil,  are  sometimes  adopted ;  but  we  think 
neither  are  to  be  recommended. 

The  process  of  killing  the  chrysalids,  should  be 
gone  through  with,  within  twelre  days  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  cocoons,  and  the  sooner  '.hereafter  the 
better. 

PRESERVATION    OF    THE    EGGS. 

Collect  the  papers  on  which  the  eggs  are  laid, 
when  quite  dry,  fold  them  up  and  put  ti:em  away  in 
tin  boxes,  in  thin  layers.  They  should  be  kept 
in  a  dry,  cool  cellar,  or  some  other  cool  place,  where 
the  temperature  does  not  exceed  65°  nor  descend 
below  the  freezing  point  32° — where  water  will  not 
freeze. 

Being  thus  placed,  they  may  remain  there  until 
the  following  spring,  when  the  time  to  hatch 
them  shall  have  arrived. 

PROPORTION  OF  EGGS  TO  COCOONS. 

The  relative  proportion  of  eggs,  depends  very 
much  upon  the  care  and  attention  that  may  be  paid 
to  the  feeding  of  the  worms,  the  degree  of  nutrition 
in  the  leaves,  the  vigor  with  which  they  may  have 
fed,  and  the  degree  of  health  maintained  during  the 
feeding*  season.  The  cocoons  are  like  all  other 
crops,  some  heavier,  and  some  lighter  than  others.  In 
Tuscany,  150  cocoons  have  made  a  pound.  In  the 
early  settlement  of  Georgia,  200  cocoons  from 
worms  raised  in  that  state,  weighed  one  pound  ;  but 
these  were  extraordinary  cocoons,  and,  therefore, 
cannot  fairly  be  taken  as  the  basis  of  a  calculation  ; 
because  it  has  severally  taken,  in  other  places,  208, 
240,262,297,271,306,328,490  and  600  to  make 
a  pound.  We  have  adopted  as  our  ratio  300,  which 
with  ordinary  care,  we  think  may  be  assumed  as  a 


53 


«fe  one.  With  respect  to  the  gross  quantity  of 
silk  produced  from  an  ounce  of  eggs,  there  is  the 
same  difference :  all  depending  upon  the  assiduity  and 
energy  of  the  culturist.  who,  as  he  wills  it,  may 
either  produce  40  or  120  pounds  of  cocoons.  In- 
stances have  been  given,  and  are  well  authenticated, 
where,  in  an  establishment  in  which  6  ounces  were  an- 
nually batched  for  10  consecutive  years,  the  average 


dampness;  but  all  these,  except  the  defective  im- 
pregnation, may  be  guarded  against 

It  is  maintained  that  no  disease  will  occur,  if  the 
temperature  of  the  place  where  the  moths  are  kept, 
be  maintained  between  68*  and  70°,  when  the 
apartments  are  dry  and  free  from  vitiated  air,  and 
when  the  eggs  are  carefully  kept  Low  marshy 
places  are  unfavorable,  as  beat  and  moisture  is 
yield*  to  the  ounce  of  eggs  was  100  pounds  of,  highly  injurious  to  their  healthful  existence — 


coceons,  or  11  1-9  pounds  of  raw  silk.  Now  if  the 
CAsualties  had  reduced  the  worms  down  to  our  stand- 
ard of  20,000  to  an  ounce  of  eggs,  and  that  is  about 
the  fair  average  number,  then  an  acre  would  pro- 
duce 305  pounds  of  silk.  This  is  a  very  large 
yield,  and  of  coarse  should  not  be  relied  upon,  or 
at  all  events  no  one  should  be  disappointed  at  a 
greatly-diminished  production,  though  we  bj  no 
means  would  discourage  the  hope,  that  even  a  larger 
produce  might  not  be  raised  in  either  Neir  Jer- 
sey, Pennsylvania,  Delaware.  Maryland,  Virginia, 
.1  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Louisi- 
ana, Alabama  or  Mississippi 

Our  table,  it  will  have  been  perceived,  sets  22.640 
egzs  as  the  number  contained  in  an  ounce  ;  this  is 
arbitrary,  having  deducted  nearly  33  per  cent  as  the 
presumed  loss. 

E5EM1E5    OF    SILK   WORMS. 

Red  Ails.  These  are  deadly  insects  to  silk 
worms.  To  prevent  their  attacks,  the  posts  con- 
taining fixed  shelves  ought  not  to  touch  the  ceiling, 
nor  must  the  shelves  reach  the  walls,  and  their  legs 
should  either  be  smeared  with  Molasses,  or  placed 
in  basins  of  water,  or  perhaps  both  would  be  best. 

The  smaller  varieties  of  birds  are  rery  food  of 
them,  bnt  as  these  would  not  enter  while  there  are 
persons  in  the  apartment,  there  is  not  much  danger 
to  be  apprehended  from  them. 

Fowls,  nice,  rah,  weazles,  lizards  and  spiders,  are 
also  their  enemies.  If  the  apartment  be  infested 
with  mice  and  rats,  they  most  be  trapped  and  killed: 
from  weazles  and  lizards  not  much  need  be  feared, 
and  as  for  the  spider,  though  a  deadly  and  destruc- 
tive foe,  the  broom  most  be  made  to  render  him  his 
quietus. 

DISUSBS   OF   THE    WORMS. 

It  may  be  assumed  as  a  sound  proposition,  that 
nearly  all  the  diseases  to  which  this  noble  insect  are 
subject,  arise  from^/bol  air,  or  from  an  trregvbr  or 
overheated  apartment;  from  exposure  to  sodden  at- 
mospheric transitions;  from  too  close  crowding; 
from  the  too  great  accumulation  of  filth,  and  from 
improper  food.  There  may  be  eases  where  the  ex 
citing  cause  of  disease  springs  from  some  particular 
condition  of  the  air,  against  which  prudence,  fore- 
eight,  and  art,  cannot  avail  And  as  it  is  useless  to 
speculate  upon  that  over  which  we  hare  no  control, 
and  which  depends  upon  eontingenees  that  may  or 
may  not  occur,  let  us  rather  torn  oar  attention  to 
those  enumerated  diseases*  the  cause  of  which  we 
know. 

DISEASES   FROM    DETECTS   I3T   EGGS. 

When  the  eggs  are  too  thickly  heaped  together 
they  become  heated  even  at  a  low  temperature,  aw 
the" embryo  becomes  injured:  there  are  also  other 
causes  which  injuriously  affect  the  eggs,  such  as  the 
imperfect  impregnation  of  the  eggs  [dubto,]  and 


high  dry  situations  are  always  the  best,  both  for 
the  worms  and  the  Mulberry. 

DISEASE  FROM  IMFCRITT  OF  THE  AIR  OF  THE  LABORA- 
TORY. 

It  is  surprising  to  find  bow  large  a  portion  of  me- 
phitic  air  disengages  in  a  large  establishment,  par- 
ticularly in  the  fourth  and  fifth  ages  from  the  silk 
worms.  The  damp  stagnates  in  it,  the  transpira- 
tion is  cheeked,  the  dung  and  fitter  undergo  the 
process  of  fermentation  and  emit  noxious  exhala- 
tions.; the  skins  of  the  worms  become  relaxed,  and 
disease  follows  in  a  few  hours,  and  hence  the  neces- 
sity of  using  the  means,  which  we  have  before  attuv- 
ded  to,  of  ensuring  a  renewal  of  pure  air  by  the  ex- 
pulsion of  the  heavier,  and  replacing  it  by  fight, 
fresh,  exterior  air.  The  burning  of  shavings  ist  tiM 
fire  places  or  stoves,  or  the  fumigation  «f  the  apart- 
ment, are  the  most  efficient  means;  indeed  they  are 
the  only  ones  to  be  relied  upon.  It  may  be  weB  to 
re  mark  here.  th%!  if  c'.e'ir.lintis  be  ob~erv«d,  U  wiJI 


scarcely  ever  be  necessary  to  apply  other 
than  the  solutions  of  chloride  of  fine;  and  to  be 
candid,  we  believe  this  agent  the  best  under  any 
circumstances.  Its  affinity  for  pt 


natter  is  proverbial ;  nor  is  it  less  so  with  , 
og  vegetable  substances.     Count  Dandolo,  howev- 


er, has  the  following  recipe  which  he 

being  eminently  active  as  an  anti-putreseent  a- 
gent: 

Take  6  ounces  common  salt,  mix  it  wefl  with  S 
ounces  of  oxyde  of  manganese :  put  this  mixture  hi 
strong  bottle  with  2  ounces  of  water,  cork  H  wefl. 
Keep  this  bottle  in  a  part  of  the  laboratory  farthest 
from  the  stoves  or  fire  places.  In  a  phial  put 
li  Ibs.  of  sulphuric  acid,  (oil  of  vitriol,)  and  keep  it 
near  the  bottle,  with  a  small  wine  glass  and  an 
iron  spoon.  Put  in  the  wine  glass  two-thirds  of  a 
spoonful  of  oil  of  vitriol,  pour  it  into  the  huge  bottle, 
and  there  will  issue  a  white  vapor.  Move  the  bot- 
tle about  the  laboratory,  holding  it  up  high  to  let 
the  vapor  spread  through  the  air.  When  the  va- 
por ceases,  cork  up  the  bottle  and  replace  it  Du- 
ring the  fifth  age  of  the  worms,  it  is  good  to  repeat 
this  fumigation  three  or  four  times  a  day.  During 
each  successive  repetition,  the  quantity  of  oil  of  vit- 
riol may  be  diminished.  The  quantity  slated  is 
sufficient  for  a  laboratory  of  5  ounces  of  eggs. 

The  necessity  for  the  use  of  this  remed j  may  al- 
ways be  known  by  the  presence  of  an  unpleasant  ef- 
fluvia in  the  room,  or  a  cloiencn  of  the  air  and 
difficulty  of  breathing. 

The  fumigation  tntmH  always  be  renewed  after 
each  "E****«"C  nf  the  hardies  or  ihclvti,  and  in 
moist  damp  weather. 

The  use  of  oil  of  vitriol,  is,  as  the  reader  is  sen- 
sible, subject  to  its  dangers.  If  dropped  upon  the 
dothes  or  skia,  it  wifl  burn,  and  its  vapor  if  inhaled 
too  closely,  wovld  he  in jurious.  The  way  to  guard 


54 


against  its  bad  effects,  id  to  hold  it  above  the  head, 
and  thus  avoid  its  searching,  dangerous  and  un- 
pleasant exhalations.  Should  the  mixture  in  the 
bottle  harden,  dilute  it  with  water. 

The  following  is  given  as  the  good  effects  of  fumi- 
gation : 

1.  It  destroys  unpleasant  effluvia  :  2.  it  diminishes 
fermentation:  3.  it  neutralizes  the  effects  of  mias- 
mata and  deleterious  emanations :  4.  it  revives  the 
silk  worms,  by  means  of  the  gentle  stimulating  ef- 
fect of  pure  vital  air:---and  5thly,  it  influences 
the  goodness  of  the  cocoon.  This  fumigating  pre- 
paration would  cost  about  30  cents. 

Disease  frvm  change  of  food.  Ifthediet  of  the 
worms  aftev  being  fed  on  one  kind  of  leaves,  or  food 
of  any  kind,  be  changed  to  another  more  congenial 
to  their  appetites,  great  danger  is  to  be  apprehend- 
ed from  their  eating  to  bursting  ;  the  feeder,  must, 
therefore,  use  his  judgment  in  feeding  them  spar- 
ingly at  the  onset. 

Diseases  also  arise  from  a  peculiar  constitution  and 
from  sudden  changes  of  the  air  ;  but  these  can  be  easi- 
Jj  guarded  against  by  observing  what  we  have  already 
said  on  this  subject. 

PARTICULAR     DISEASES. 

The  passis.  This  disease  appears  aftor  the  first 
moulting,  when  the  worms  advance  unequally  in 
growth  :  they  are  observed  to  be  short,  thin  and  with- 
out vigor  or  appetite  :  it  is  ascribed  to  their  being  too 
much  heated  in  their  earl}  state.  The  remedies  consist 
in  separating  them  from  healthy  worms,  putting  them 
in  another  apartment,  well  ventilated,  giving  them  ten- 
der leaves,  and  in  preserving  them  in  an  uniform  tem- 
perature, a  little  higher  than  that  in  which  the  healthy 
ones  are  kept. 

Tlie  Grasserie.  This  disease  appears  towards  the  se- 
cond moulting,  and  in  the  third  or  fourth  ages.  Its 
cause  is  ascribed  to  the  food  being  too  substantial  or 
nourishing  for  the  young  worms,  occasioning  indiges- 
tion ;  hence  they  swell,  theirbodies  become  opaque  and 
of  a  green  color,  and  their  skins  tear  from  the  least 
touch,  and  sometimes,  spontaneously  from  over  disten- 
sion. Theirbodies  are  alsocorered  with  an  oily,  viscous 
humour  which. transudes  the  skin.  If  this  be  the  cause 
it  is  an  easy  matter  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  the 
disease,  by  feeding  the  young  worms  through  the  first, 
second  and  third  ages,  with  young  tender  leaves. 

The  Lueette.  About  the  fifth  age,  silk  worms  are  at- 
tacked with  a  disease  called  lusetteorclairette,  from  the 
shining  appearance  of  their  bodies.  Their  heads  also 
increase  in  size,  and  they  ultimately  die  without  form- 
ing their  cocoons.  The  cause  is  neglect  in  the  regular 
supply  of  leaves.  The  means  of  prevention  as  well  as 
cure  are  easy.  Regularity  in  feeding  effects  the  first, 
and  separation  of  the  silk  from  healthy  worms,  and  the 
supplying  of  the  invalids  with  food  in  a  gradual  manner, 
so  as  to  restore  them  without  subjecting  them  to  an 
opposite  disease  arising  from  a  too  sudden  repletion,  is 
the  last. 

The  yellows.  This  disease  appears  towards  the  end 
of  the  fifth  age,  when  the  worms  are  filled  with  the 
silky  fluid  and  are  about  to  spin.  It  proceeds  from  ex- 
posure to  sudden  intense  heat,  and  its  symptoms  are 
yellowness  and  swelling  of  the  body,  an  enlargement 
of  the  rings,  an  appearance  of  the  feet  being  drawn  up 
from  the  puffiness  of  the  surrounding  parts.  They 
cease  to  eat  and  run  about,  leaving  stains  of  a  yellow 
fluid,  which  exudes  from  their  bodies.  The  yellowness 
first  appears  round  the  spiracles  or  breathing  holes, 
and  gradually  diffuses  itself  over  the  body.  It  may  be 
called  a  dropsy  of  the  skin,  arising  from  the  infiltration 
of  the  nutritive  Quid  through  every  part  of  their  bodies, 


and  they  soon  become  soft  and  burst.  The  acid  humour 
issuing  from  them,  will  kill  any  worms  that  touch  it. 
This  disease  has  its  origin  in  indigestible  food  and  ex- 
posure to  cold  during  rainy  weather.  The  diseased 
worms  must  be  removed  to  a  separate  apartment,  where 
a  change  of  air,  aided  by  fires,  may  cure  them.  Oak 
leaves  fed  to  the  worms  in  two  instances  effected  a 
cure. 

The  muscardine  or  numbness.  This  disease  shews  it- 
self in  the  fifih  age,  by  black  spots  in  different  parts  of 
the  worm.  These  spots  afterwards  become  yellow,  and 
finally  red,  or  the  color  of  cinnamon,  which  is  diffused 
over  the  whole  body  ;  tho  worm  becomes  hard  and  dry, 
and  is  covered  with  a  white  mould.  The  remedy  is  fu- 
migation and  admission  of  fresh  air. 

The  tripes,  or  mart  blanc.  This  disease  appears  gene- 
rally during  moist  or  rainy  weather,  but  is  sometimes 
produced  by  the  confined  exhalations  of  the  worms 
and  their  litter.  The  symptoms  are,  the  worms  be- 
come flaccid  and  soft,  and  when  dead,  preserve  the 
semblance  of  life  and  death  ;  but  they  soon  turn  black; 
and  become  putrid.  The  remedies  are — the  atmosphere 
of  the  apartment  should  be  warmed,  and  made  to  cir- 
culate by  lighting  brisk  fires  in  the  chimney ;  and  by 
the  removal  of  the  diseased  worms  to  another  room. 

This  is  a  most  formidable  array  of  diseases,  but  the 
discriminating  reader  will  have  perceived^  that  they  are 
in  fact  nearly  one  and  all  the  suine  disease,  assuming,  to 
be  sure,  somewhat  different  types  and  forms,  but  all  re- 
ferrible  to  the  same  general  causes,  viz  :— impure  air,  too 
contracted  room,  exposure  to  sudden  atmospheric  transitions, 
to  irregular  feeding,  over  feeding,  stinted  feeding,  and  to 
improper  food :  so  that  afterall,  there  is  not  one^esciting- 
cause  in  the  whole  catalogue  of  diseases,  that  is  not 
perfectly  within  the  control  of  the  culturist,  and,  there- 
fore, if  his  worms  suffer  by  sickness,  the  fault  is  with 
himself;  for  there  is  not  one  of  those  maladies  which, 
may  not  be  prevented  by  proper  attention  to  feeding  and 
temperature.  There  is  nothing  more  simple  in  all  its 
bearings  than  the  management  of  the  worms,  if  the 
proper  vigilance  be  resorted  to,  to  preserve  them  in  the 
possession  of  health  ;  but  if  negligence  and  wanton 
neglect  be  indulged  in,  these  causes  will  assuredly  prove 
destructive  to  the  interests  of  the  culturist,  in  the  genera- 
tion of  disease  and  production  of  mortality  among  his 
worms.  For  ourself,  we  regard  the  diseases  enumerated 
as  of  little  account,  because  in  the  vigilance,  energy, 
and  good  sense,  of  such  of  the  American  people  as 
may  engage  in  it,  we  behold  the  sure  guaranties  that 
nothing  will  be  jeoparded  or  lost  by  want  of  attention 
and  care.  Indeed,  we  hold  these  diseases  to  be  of  such 
trifling  account,  that  did  we  not  desire  to  deal  with  per- 
fact  ingenuousness,  we  should  not  have  named  one  of 
them,  as  we  believe  they  are  formidable  only  in  name, 
and  may  all  be  prevented  by  following  the  rules  pre- 
scribed. 

VARIETIES    OF    THE    SILK    WORMS. 

Count  Dandolo  describes  the  following  distinct  varie- 
ties of  silk  worms,  viz  : 

1.  Silk  worms  of  three  casts  or  moultings.     The  eggs  of 
this  kind  are  to  be  found  in  Lombardy  ;  the  worms  and 
cocoons  are  two-fifths  smaller  than  thoseof  the  common 
sort.     Their  cocoons  are  composed  of  finer  and  more 
beautiful  silk  than  the  common  cocoon,  are  better  con- 
structed, and  according  to  weight  yield  a  greater  quan- 
tity of  silk  ;  require  four  days  less  care  than  the  com- 
mon worms;  are  strong  and  hardy,  and  promote  a  sav- 
ing of  time,  labor  and  money. 

2.  Large  silk  worms  of  four  casts.    These  worms  are  of 
a  very  large  quality,  the  eggs  were  obtained  in  Friuli ; 
they  yield  a  much  larger  cocoon  than  the  common 
species ;  150  of  the  large  sort  weigh  a  pound  and  a  half, 
while  it  requires  360  and  upwards  of  the  ordinary  co- 
coons to  weigh  as  much.    The  silk  is  coarser  and  not 


55 


near  so  pure,  and  the  worms  five  or  six  xlays  later  than 
the  others  in  attaining  their  full  growth,  and  in  rising, 
than  the  common  silk  worm. 

3.  Worms  that  produce  white  silk.     This  species  was 
introduced  into  France  about  fifty-two  years  ago,  from 
China,  but  was  not  much  cultivated   until   about    24 
years  past,  and  is  much  prized. 

Count  Dandolo  says,  that  he  has  raised  a  large  quan- 
tity of  these,  and  found  them  in  all  respects  equal  to  the 
common  silk  worms  of  four  casts.  That  if  he  reared  silk 
worms  for  the  purpose  of  spinning  the  silk  himself,  he 
would  cultivate  only  the  silk  worms  of  three  casts, 
and  those  that  produce  white  silk,  as  preferable  to  all 
others,  and  every  year  would  choose  the  very  whitest 
and  finest  cocoons,  to  prevent  the  degeneration  of  the 
species. 

The  following  varieties  may  also  be  added  to  the 
number  : 

4.  In  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  there  is  a  small 
pale   white   worm,    which   it  is  said    eats  but   twenty 
days,   and  produces   fine    white    silk,   though   in     less 
quantity  than  either  the  common  large  pale  white,  or 
dark  colored  worm  ;  but  it  has  the  good  quality  of  re- 
taining its  clear  while  color,  and  does  not  turn  white 
by   washing  or  by   exposure  to  sun   and   air.     These 
worms  also  produce  two  crops.  • 

5.  Jl  dark  drab  colored  icorm.     This   variety  is  very 
common  in  the  U.  Stales,  and  are  called  "black" — they 
live  longer  and  make  more  silk  than  the  large  white 
worms. 

6.  Silk  worms  of  S  cropt.     At  the  silk  establishment 
of  the  British  East  India  Company  at  Jungepore,  Den- 
gal,  Lord   Valencia,  besides   the  common   annual  silk 
worm  which  gave  but  one  crop,  found  two  others  ;  the 
one  commonly  reared,  and  supposed  to  be  indigenous, 
is  called  Dacey,    producing  S   harvests — also   another, 
but  greatly    inferior,   called    the    China,  or  Madrassa, 
which  yields  S  times  a  year. 

The  following  instances  we  copy  from  the  Treasury 
Manual,  to  show  that  two  crops  a,  year  have  been  raised 
in  the  United  States ;  and  to  use  a  very  trite  adage,  what 
has  been  done,  may  be  done  again, — therefore,  \ve 
incline  to  the  belief,  that  it  is  within  the  power  of  a  vi- 
gilant culturist,  residing  in  those  States,  in  which  the 
heat  of  summer  continues  long,  to  make  double  crops  ; 
but  then,  we  question  much,  whether  any  calculations 
should  be  predicated  upon  such  results,  as  they  must 
necessarily  depend  for  success  upon  circumstances,  in 
our  eccentric  climate,  too  uncertain  to  rest  any  well 
grounded  hopes  upon. 

"  In  the  month  of  March,  182G,  Mr.  Seth  Millingfon, 
Prairie  Haul,  St.  Charles  Co.,  Missouri,  received  a  few 
silk  worm  eggs  from  Philadelphia,  which  were  kept  in 
an  upper  room  without  a  fire,  and  hatched  early  in 
April  :  they  were  fed  the  first  week  on  lettuce,  after- 
wards on  the  leaves  of  the  White  and  native  Mulberry 
tree,  and  came  to  maturity,  within  from  twenty-four  to 
thirty  days,  and  spun  their  cocoons  before  the  12th 
of  May. 

On  the  last  day  of  May  and  first  day  of  June,  the  moths 
came  out  and  laid  their  eggs  on  paper,  which  was  loose- 
ly rolled  up  and  placed  in  an  open  room.  Within  8  or 
10  days  from  the  time  the  eggs  were  laid,  they  began  to 
hatch,  and  before  the  15th  of  June,  nearly  one-twen- 
tieth part  had  hatched  ;  and  the  worms  were  heallhj, 
fed  well,  grew  more  rapidly  and  came  to  maturity  in 
a  few  days  less  time,  than  the  first  crop.  They  wound 
their  cocoons  on  the  first  day  of  July;  or  the  last  of 
that  month,  and  first  of  August,  the  moths  came  forth 
and  laid  their  eggs,  which  were  placed  in  the,  same 
room  as  the  first  eggs.  On  the  12th  and  18th  of 
August,  these  eggs  were  hatched.  The  worms  came  to 
maturity  and  spun  their  cocoons  in  less  time  than  the 
first,  viz  :  before  the  middle  of  September,  the  moths 


came  forth  and  laid  their  eggs  in  the  first  days  of  Oc- 
tober." 

"Messrs.  Weiss  and  Youngman,  of  Bethlehem,  Pa. 
raised  two  crops  during  the  year  1825.  The  worms  of 
the  second  crop  appeared  more  vigorous  and  healthy 
than  those  of  the  first ;  they  also  produced  large  co- 
coons, the  silk  of  which  was  of  a  belter  quality. 

"  Two  attempts,  however,  by  Messrs.  Terhoeren,  of 
Philadelphia  county,  Pa.,  in  the  years  1826  and 
failed." 


We  have  now  arrived  at  a  branch  of  th6  culture  of 
the  most  vital  importance  to  the  success  of  the  whole, 
and  we  feel  especially  solicitous  to  lay  before  the  rea- 
der a  frank  exposition  upon  this  head.  It  is  the  supjfOs- 
ed  difficulty  of  reeling  that  has  hitherto  deterred  hun- 
dreds from  entering  into  the  business,  and,  indeed,  to- 
that  cause,  together  with  the  want  of  a  market,  may  be 
ascribed  the  snail-like  march  it  has  hitherto  made  to- 
wards being  adopted  as  a  component  part  of  the  hus- 
bandry of  the  country.  Much  difficulty  too  has  been  ex- 
perienced in  the  obtainment  of  reels.  This  latter  cause, 
however,  has  ceased  to  exist,  as  reels  of  the  most  sim- 
ple structure  are  now  to  be  had  at  moderate  prices, 
and  a  knowledge  of  the  use  of  these  is  so  easy  of  acquisi- 
tion, as  to  hive  stript  this  particular  part  of  the  culture 
of  all  the  repulsiveness  with  which  it  was  formerly  sur- 
rounded. Those  who  enter  into  the  business  with  a 
view  of  prosecuting  it  on  a  large  scale  and  of  combi- 
ning them  anufacture  of  silk  with  it,  will  not  need  to  be 
instructed  ;  but  the  farmer  or  planter  who  may  have 
entered  into  it  merely  as  a  branch  of  his  system  of 
husbandry,  will  require  to  be  inducted  into  the  mode  of 
preparing  his  silk  for  market.  And  we  would  advise  all 
such  to  submit  their  cocoons  to  the  process  of  reeling, 
because  in  so  doing  they  will  impart  a  greatly  enhanced 
value  to  the  article,  and  we  would  especially  recom- 
mend them  so  to  do,  as  the  requisite  labor  may  all  be 
performed  by  the  females  of  their  respective  families, 
who  will  be  enabled  through  a  labor  no  less  interesting 
than  useful,  to  greatly  add  to  the  aggregate  amount  of 
the  productions  of  the  country,  and  instead  of  being 
burthens  upon  those  upon  whom  they  may  be  depen- 
dent, will  become  at  once  among  the  most  profitable 
branches  of  every  farming  establishment.  Nor  is  the 
labor  of  reeling  the  less  valuable,  because  it  can  bo 
performed  at  periods  of  leisure  ;  but  as  we  would  ad- 
vise in  almost  every  other  matter,  so  in  this,  the  co- 
coons should  be  reeled  as  speedily  as  possible,  and  es- 
pecially those  that  are  defective,  as  they  will  deterio- 
rate by  being  permitted  to  remain  unwound  for  any 
length  of  time. 

Before  we  enter  upon  the  description  of  the  process 
of  reeling,  we  would  respectfully  offer  a  word  of  advice 
to  each  and  every  person  who  may  contemplate  enter- 
ing into  the  business.  It  is  this. 

Those  who  may  commence  the  silk  business  as  a 
branch  of  their  respective  system5' of  husbandry,  after 
having  sown  their  Mulberry  seed,  should  procure  a 
small  quantity  of  silk  worm  eges,  with  which  we  ad- 
vise, that  they  should  practice  upon  our  instructions. 
Should  they  do  so,  this  good  will  result  from  it — by  the 
time  their  orchards  of  Mulberry  are  fit  to  feed  from, 
they  will  have  become  perfect  masters  of  the  manage- 
ment of  the  worms,  the  cocoons  and  the  method  of  reel- 
ing the  silk.  Jf  we  are  asked,  where  they  will  get  the 
leaves  from  with  which  to  feed  the  worms,  we  answer, 
in  most  cases,  even  the  first  year,  they  will  be  able  to 
abstract  a  sufficiency  of  leaves  from  the  Mulberry 
plants,  without  injury  to  them,  to  feed  the  few  worms 
necessary  to  be  fed  as  a  school.  Five  hundred  or  a 
thousand  eggs  would  be  sufficient  to  commence  with, 
and  these  could  be  afterwards  multiplied,  so  that,  by 
ihe  time  the  orchards  were  of  sufficient  age  for  strip- 


56 


ping,  the  party  might  hare  tho  requisite  number  of 
eggs  on  band,  without  further  cost,  to  feed  all  the 
leaves  lie  might  raise.  The  'intelligent  reader  will  dis- 
eoVer  at  a  single  glance  fhe  object  we  have  in  view, 
and  will  doubtless,  improve  upon  our  suggestion.  Our 
anxiety  to  get  our  countrymen  to  enter  liberally  into 
Ihis  culture,  arises  from  the  honest  conviction  enter- 
tained by  us,  that  it  is  more  profitable  than  any  thing 
else  within  the  range  of  the  agricultural  calling,  and 
because  we  behold  in  it  the  certain  means  of  employ- 
ment to  the  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  desti- 
tute females,  who  are  now  dragging  out  a  precarious 
livelihood  throughout  our  wide  spread  country,  and  be- 
cause we  also  behold  in  it,  an  antidote  for  that  spirit 
of  desolating  emigration,  which  is  driving  the  honest 
and  enterprising  from  the  haunts  of  their  youth,  to  dis- 
tant lands,  rand  depopulating  the  members  of  that  gal- 
lant confederacy,  which  achieved  our  freedom.  Thus 
influenced,  it  will 'be  readily  perceived,  we  were  solici- 
tous that  success  s'hould  attend  those  who  should  be  in- 
duced to  adventure  in  the  silk  culture,  and  hence  it  is, 
•we  advise  all  to  acquire  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
art,  by  practising  in  the  way  we  recommend — a  wcy 
which,  while  it  embodies  every  advantage  of  a  fchool 
of  experiment,  comparatively  costs  nothing. 

METHOD    OF    KEELTNO. 

A  person  charged  with  the  business  of  reeling  the  co" 
coons,  whom  we  will  suppose  to  be  a  woman,  must  be 
provided  with  a  basin  of  soft,  hot  water,  to  be  kept  at 
the  proper  heat,  by  being  placed  upon  a  small  earthen 
or    iron    furnace,    containing    burning  charcoal  ;   she 
must  have  a  small  whisk  of  broom  corn,  or  of  birch 
twigs,  cut  sharp  at  the  points,  and  being  seated  behind 
the  basin,  she  must  throw  into  the  water  a  handful  or 
two  of  cocoons  of  the  same  quality  ;  press  them  gently 
tinder  the  water  for  two  or  three  minutes,  in  order  to 
soften  the  gum  of  the  silk,  and  thereby  to  loosen  the  ends 
of  the  filament?.     She  is  then  to  stir  the  cocoons  Trith 
the  end  of  the  whisk  or  birchen  rods,  as  lightly  as  pos- 
sible, barely  touching  the  cocoon«,   as  should  they  be 
roughly  struck,  the  fibres  of  the  silk  instead  of  coming 
off  singly,  will  clinjr  together  in  lumps,  which  prevents 
it  from  winding  off.     She  will  continue  the  stirring  un- 
til one  of  the  fibres  or  filaments  adheres  to  it,  when  dis- 
engaging it,  and  laying  aside  the  whisk,  she  is  to  draw 
the  filaments  towards  her,  until  they  come  off  quite 
clean  from  the  floss  or  coarse  silk,  which  always  sur- 
rounds the  cocoon,  and  the  fine  silk  begins  to   appear  : 
then,  breaking  off  the  thread  and  collecting  the  floss  first 
taken  off,  she  will  run  the  thread  through   one    of  the 
holes  in  the  iron   plate,  and   proceed    to  get,  and  at- 
tach, others  in  a  similar  way,  until  a  sufficient  number 
is  obtained  to  make  the  thread  of  the  required  firm- 
ness; a   second  thread  is  formed  the  same  way,  and 
passed  through  the  adjoining  hole  :  the  two  threads 
are  then  crossed  several  times  around  each  other,  and  the 
ends  of  each  passed    through   the  guide  hooks  of  the 
traversing  bar,  and  on   the  contrary  side  to  the  hole  in 
the  iron  plate,  through   which  it  had  been  previously 
passed.   They  are   then   to  be  carried  from,  and  made 
fast  to,  one  of  the  arms  of  the  reel.    The  points  of  at- 
tachment of  the  two  threads  will  be  regulated  by  the 
recler,  who  should  have  smooth  fingers,  as  roughness  of 
the  skin   will  cause  great  embarrassment.    If,  there- 
fore, the  skin  of  the  reeler's  fingers  be  rough,  they  should 
be  rendered  smooth  by  being  rubbed  with  fand  paper, 
or  dog  fish  skin.     Roth  threads  being  fastened  to  the 
reel,  it  is  to  be  turned  with  a  rr gular  and  even  motion  ; 
at  first  tlowly ,  until  the  threads  are  found  to  run  freely 
and  easily.     The  crossing  of  the  threads  is  essential  to 
their  perfection,  and  must  not  be  omitted.    The  fric- 
tion of  the  threads  removes  any  inequalities  and  rough- 
ness upon  them,  and  insureg  strength,  uniform  thickness, 


As  soon  as  the  pods  begin  to  give  the  thread  freeljT, 
the  reel  is  turned  with  a  quicker  motion.  While"  the 
reel  is  turning,  the  spinner  must  continually  add  fresh 
fibres  to  each  thread  as  fast  as  she  can  find  the  ends, 
not  waiting  till  some  of  the  number  she  began  with  are 
ended,  because  the  internal  fibres  are  much  thinner 
than  those  constituting  the  external  layers  ;  but  must 
constantly  prepare  fresh  ends,  by  dipping  the  whisk 
among  fresh  cocoons,  of  which  such  a  quantity  must 
be  occasionally  thrown  into  the  basin  as  will  suffice  to 
supply  the  two  threads  which  are  reeling,  but  not 
more  ;  because  by  being  too  long  soaked  in  the  hot  wa- 
ter,, they  would  wind  off  in  burrs.  The  eocoons  thrown 
in,  must  be  often  forced  under  the  water,  that  they 
may  be  equally  soaked.  The  supplying  fresh  ends,  is  a 
business  which  every  woman  who  can  spin  will  fully  un- 
derstand. She  will  know,  when  the  cocoon  is  exhausted, 
or  its  fibres  break,  she  must  take  the  end  of  another  fi- 
bre and  throw  it  lightly  on  the  one  that  is  winding  and 
roll  them  between  the  thumb  and  the  finger,  gently 
pressing  them  together,  so  as  to  cause  a  juncture  of  the 
threads.  The  adroitness  in  adding  fresh  threads  can 
only  be  acquired  by  practice  ;  but  by  proper  attention, 
that  peculiar  tact,  so  necessary  to  success  can  easily  be 
acquired. 

If  the  pods  leap  up  often,  tFie  motion  of  the  wheel 
must  be  slackened,  and  if  the  threads  come  off  in  burrs, 
it  must  be  turned  quicker.  Of  this,  the  spinner,  who  has 
her  eyes  upon  the  balls  and  thread,  must,  as  she  sees 
occasion,  apprise  the  reeler,  and  at  the  fame  time,  the 
fire  must  be  increased  or  diminished1,  that  the  reel  be 
allowed  a  proper  motion,  which  ought  to  be  as  quick  as 
possible  without  endangering  the  breaking  of  the 
thread,  or  huir^ing  the  spinner,  so  that  she  cannot 
add  fresh  cocoons  as  fast  as  the  old  ones  are  ended. 
The  quicker  the  motion  of  the  wheel  is  the  better  the 
silk  winds  off-,  and  the  better  the  end  joins  to  the 
thread. 

Every  care  must  be  observed  to  avoid  the  breaking 
of  the  whole  thread  or  single  fibres,  as  every  such  oc- 
currence greatly  retards  the  operation. 

In  preparing  fine  silk,  in  Cevervne?,  a  famous  silk  dis- 
trict of  France,  the  cocoons  are  not  wound  off  entirely, 
so  as  to  leave  the  pellicle  of  the  chrysalis  bare  ;  first — 
because  the   additional    fibres    retired,  to  be  added, 
when  the  first  and  strong  part  of  the  fibre  is  observed  to 
be   spent,  might  make  the   compound  thread  too  stout, 
and  would  thus  cause  a  waste  of  silk  ;  secondly,  be- 
cause the  fibre  of  a  cocoon  which   has  been   entirely 
wound  off,  besides  being  weak,  also  abounds  in  knots, 
which  would  cause  it  to  break   in  winding,  and  injure 
its  uniformity,  in  which  the  goodness  of  the  thread  main- 
ly consists.     Therefore,  in  winding  fine   silk,  when  the 
cocoon  has  given  off  three-fourths  and  a  half  of  silk,  it 
must  be  replaced  by  another  cocoon  :  the  remainder  of 
the  first  cocoons  are  to  be  set  aside,  and  theirsilk  add- 
ed to  that  of  an  inferior  quality.     When  the  first  par- 
cel of  cocoons  is  nearly  finished,  take  out  with  a  ladle 
all  those  on  which  some  silk  has  been  left ;  let  them  be 
opened,  the  chrysalids  taken  out,  and  the  shells  put  in 
a  basket,  with  the  coarse  fibres  first  pulled  off  with  the 
hands  from  the  cocoons,  which  were  ordered  to  be  laid 
aside.     Those   cocoons  which   are  partly  wound  off, 
must  on  no  account  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the  ba- 
sin ;  for  they  will  obscure   and  thicken  the  water,  and 
injure  the  color  and  lustre  of  the  silk,  which  can  then 
be  used  only  for  dark  colors  ; — besides  this,  the  consist- 
ence of  the  silk  is  injured,  and   waste  ensues  in  the 
winding.     The  shells   must  be   added   to  the   manure 
heap  ;  and  as  a  general  rule,  it  may  be  laid  down  as  es- 
sential, that  the  water  in   the  basin  must  be  changed 
whenever  it  becomes  discolored. 

The  softest  water  must  always  be  chosen  for  reeling 


and  cylindrical  form,  which  would  otherwise  be  flat.   '  I  °f  tne  silk,  and  although  its  precise  temperature  can. 


57 


not  be  laid  down,  because  that,  in  a  great  measure, 
must  depend  upon  the  composition  of  the  silk  of  the  co- 
coons, which  cannot  be  nscertained  until  the  reeling  has 
commenced.  Such  is  the  difference  in  cocoons,  that  while 
some  can  be  reeled  from  water  heated  from  160B  and 
indeed  less,  others  will  require  a  temperature  of  200°. 
Some  point  between  150  and  190  is  probably  the  right 
one,  but  what  that  point  is  can  easily  be  ascertained, 
as  whenever  the  cocoons  yield /reefy,  it  has  been  already 
found,  and  the  heat  of  the  water  should  be  maintained 
at  it.  By  immersing  the  thermometer  in  the  water  at 
any  time,  the  precise  required  heat  can  be  determined, 
and  may  be  preserved  at  that  by  submitting  the  water 
repeatedly  to  the  test  of  the  instrument.  The  water 
should  never  exceed  200P,  and  never  that  or  any  thing 
like  it,  unless  absolutely  required  by  the  condition  of 
the  cocoons,  and  in  order  to  arrive  at  the  exact  heat 
wanted,  the  increase  should  be  gradually  carried  for- 
ward. There  is  no  mystery  at  arriving  at  this  point — 
all  that  is  requisite  is  attention  :  with  this  the  person 
engaged  in  reeling  will  be  able  to  graduate  the  tern- 
perature  with  the  least  difficulty. 

When  the  spent  cocoons  leap  up  and  adhere  to  the 
iron  plate,  they  must  be  immediately  taken  away,  else 
by  choking  the  passage,  they  will  endanger  the  break- 
ing of  the  thread. 

When  the  reel  hag  remained  any  time  idle,  the  thread 
between  the  basin  and  the  wires  or  Yampins,  must  be 
vfet  to  cause  the  thread  to  run  easily.  Keep  also  the 
teeth  of  the  wheels,  and  the  mortises  in  which  the 
traversing  bar  plays,  wet,  to  ensure  regularity  and  ease 
to  their  movements.  In  winding  the  good  cocoons,  some 
defective  ones  will  be  found  among  them,  which  will 
not  wind  off,  or  are  full  of  knots.  These  must  be  taken 
out  of  the  copper,  and  be  kept  by  themselves  ;  they  are 
called  bassinats,  and  are  to  be  wound  apart  as  coarse  as 
possible  :  they  make  afoul  silk. 

The  breaking  of  the  fibres  is  principally  owing  eithrr 
to  bad  cocoons,  viz:  being  ill  formed  owing  to  the 
worms  being  disturbed  during  their  spinning  :—  or  the 
fibres  may  break  by  an  improper  regulation  of  heat  in 
the  water  :  first,  when  it  is  not  sufficient  to  make  them 
wind  off  easy  ;  or,  second,  when  it  is  too  great,  and  oc- 
casions burrs,  which  may  stop  at  some  of  the  holes 
through  which  the  thread  runs.  Cocoons  also  which 
have  two  worms  enclosed,  will  perpetually  break.  The 
whole  thread  may  also  break,  by  burrs  stopping  at  the 
holes  of  the  plate  or  by  the  reels  being  turned  by  jerks. 
It  may  be  fastened  like  the  fibres,  by  laying  the  parts 
on  one  another,  and  giving  them  a  little  twist.  To 
avoid  the  breaking,  occasioned  by  burrs,  the  rampins 
should  be  just  so  wide  as  to  let  them  easily  pass. 

It  would  be  convenient  for  the  spinner  to  have  a  lit- 
tle stick  erected  close  to  the  side  of  the  basin,  to  hang 
her  wisk  on,  and  also  a  sharp  fork,  with  which  she 
may  draw  away  the  spent  cocoons,  or  such  as  being 
near  spent,  stick  in  the  holes  in  the  plate  :  and  as  the 
whisk  will  frequently  take  up  more  ends  than  are  im- 
mediately to  be  added,  and  as  the  spinner  will  some- 
times have  occasion  to  employ  both  her  hands,  the  brush 
will,  at  that  time,  conveniently  hang  by  the  basin, 
while  the  cocoons,  which  are  attached  to  it,  remain  in 
the  water,  and  the  ends  will  be  in  readiness  as  they  are 
wanted.  When  the  cocoons  rise  to  the  iron  plate,  they 
are  to  be  drawn  down  between  the  fingers  of  the  snread 
hand. 

If  the  spinner  be  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  off 
work  for  any  length  of  time,  the  cocoons  should  all  be 
raised  with  a  skimmer  out  of  the  water,  till  her  return, 
otherwise  by  oversoaking  they  would  run  off  in  burrs  ; 
but  it  is  best  to  continue  the  reeling  without  interrup- 
tion, and  let  fresh,  but  equally  experienced  persons 
succeed  those  who  are  tired. 

As  the  heat  of  the  water  of  the  basin  will  require  to 
be  varied  according  to  the  ease  or  difficulty  with  which 

8 


the  different  sorts  of  cocoons  give  off  their  silk,  the 
spinner  should  always  have  some  cold  water  within 
reach,  in  order  to  cool  that  in  the  basin  quickly,  when 
the  silk  comes  off  too  easily,  and  in  burrs.  The  water 
is  also  necessary  for  the  woman  managing  the  cocoons, 
to  cool  her  fingers,  and  to  sprinkle  the  iron  bar  when  it 
becomes  heated.  Some  light  wood,  chips  or  shavings, 
should  also  be  at  Hand  to  increase  the  heat  quickly, 
when  the  cocoons  do  not  yield  their  silk  readily.  The 
water  in  which  the  cocoons  are  heated  must  be  pure, 
soft  nnd  clear  of  sand  or  settlings. 

When  the  cocoons  are  first  put  in  the  water,  if  the 
silk  rises  thick  upon  the  brush,  or  gets  in  lump^,  it 
is  a  eign  the  water  is  too  hot  :  if  the  thread  cannot  be 
caught,  the  water  is  too  cold.  When  the  cocoons  are 
in  play,  if  they  rise  often  to  the  holes  in  the  iron  plate, 
the  water  is  too  hot  •,  if  the  cocoon  do  not  follow  the 
threads,  it  is  too  eoW. 

Keep  nn  equal  number  of  cocoons  working  at  each 
end  of  the  hasin  in  order  to  preserve  the  thread  of  silk 
to  an  equal  size.  When  there  are  fewer  on  one  side 
than  the  other,  the  silk  becomes  smaller  at  that  side, 
and  the  thread  will  break.  Therefore,  throw  in  the  co- 
coons one  by  one,  and  never  throw  two  at  a  time. 

It  will  be  seen  by  observing  the  position  of  the  thread 
upon  the  reel,  that  the  ditlerent  layers  do  not  lie  paral- 
lel to,  nor  upon,  but  across  one  another.  This  is  owing 
to  the  mechanism  of  the  apparatus,  and  is  particularly 
contrived  to  effect  this  object ;  which  is  essential  to  the 
perfection  of  the  process,  and  one  to  which  the  ac- 
knowledged superiority  of  the  Italian  silk  is  to  be  as- 
cribed. It  is  effected  by  the  seesaw  or  horizontal  mo- 
tion of  the  traversing  bar,  and  is  produced  by  the  dif- 
ferent number  of  the  teeth  in  the  pinion  of  the  axle, 
and  in  the  wheels  at  the  ends  of  the  shaft,  and  in  the 
pinions  on  the  top  of  the  post,  which  catch  and  work 
upon  one  another.  Without  this  crossing,  the  thread", 
from  their  gummy  nature,  would  inevitably  adhere,  and 
render  the  subsequent  windings  and  twistings  of  the 
silk  very  difficult  ;  causing  the  threads  frequently  to 
break,  and  when  joined  to  form  knots,  which,  in  weav- 
ing, cannot  pass  through  the  reed*,  apd  hence  injure  the 
beauty  of  the  stuffs.  But  the  mechanism  mentioned  of 
the  traversing  bar,  prevents  the  threads  lying  over 
each  upon  the  other,  upon  the  reel,  until  after  it  has 
made  many  revolutions.  It  is  stated  by  Borgnis  in  the 
Traite  de  Mechanique,  that  the  silk  fibres  of  the  cocoons 
are  spun  in  zigzags,  like  those  formed  by  the  silk  reel, 
and,  consequently,  the  operation  of  the  reel  is  an  imita- 
tion of  nature,  of  which  the  industry  of  the  catterpillar, 
instructed  by  her,  is  the  prototype. 

Count  Dandolo,  says,  that  it  is  a  well  known  fact,  that 
of  two  reelers,  each  reeling  7  1-2  pounds  of  cocoons  of 
the  same  quality,  one  will  obtain  only  six  ounces  and 
a  half,  or,  perhaps  still  less,  while  another  will  turn  off 
eight  ounces. 

A  woman  experienced  in  the  business,  with  a  girl  to 
turn  the  wheel  and  attend  the  fire  under  the  cauldron, 
can,  with  ease,  reel  off  one  pound  of  silk  per  day,  con- 
sisting of  four  or  five  cocoons  of  the  most  perfect.quali- 

*y- 

When  a  desired  quantity  of  silk  has  been  wound  on 
the  reel,  pick  off  all  the  loose  silk;  then  take  a  little 
handful  of  the  coarse  silk,  and  after  washing  nn.5 
squeezing  it,  dip  it  in  cold  water,  and  rub  over  the  silk 
on  the  reel,  stroking  up  also  the  silk  with  the  palm  of 
the  hand  :  then  turn  the  wheel  with  a  II  possible  veloci- 
ty, with  open  windows,  if  the  reeling  has  been  done  in 
a  room  for  eight  or  ten  minutes  to  dry  the  silk  pffertiv 
ally;  which  done,  take  it  off  the  reel,  put  it  i,n  a  Hry,  airy 
place,  but  not  in  the  sun.  This  is  done  to  clear  the 
silk  and  give  it  a  gloss. 

When  one  reel  is  taken  off,  another  should  be  p"t  on, 
that  the  work  may  not  be  delayed.  Every  winding  ap* 
paratus  must  have  two  reels. 


58 


In  preparing  tho  dupions  for  winding  off,  more  arc 
put  into  the  basin  at  once  than  of  the  finest  kind.  Thev 
must  be  first  well  cleaned  from  the  floss  on  their  out" 
sides.  The  water  also  must  be  boiling  hot  ;  and  as  the 
silk  they  yield  is  of  a  coarser  quality  than  the  other,  anc 
has  a  good  deal  of  the  floss  upon  "it,  the  person  who 
turns  the  reel  must  take  the  opportunity,  while  theom 
who  manages  the  basin  is  preparing  the  cocoons  fo 
winding,  to  clear  and  pick  off  the  loose  silk  from  tha 
which  is  on  the  reel.  The  dujiions  intended  for  ordina 
ry  sewing  silk,  are  to  be  wound  from  15  to  20  cocoons 
The  rest  may  be  wound  as  coarse  as  possible,  that  is 
from  40  to  50  cocoons.  These  serve  to  cover  and  fill  up 
in  coarse  stuffs,  and  are  likewise  for  seuing-  silk.  Th< 
good  choquettes  arc  to  be  wound  according  to  the  use 
they  are  in  tended  to  be  put  to,  but  not  finer  than  from  se 
ven  to  eight.  The  badchoquettes  may  be  wound  from  15  tc 
20.  The  satin  cocoons,  so  called  from  their  resemblance 
to  satin,  require  water  only  moderately  hot.  The  pro 
per  heat  will  be  found  by  observing  the  manner  in  which 
the  silk  comes  off  from  the  first  of  them  which  are  pu 
into  the  basin  ;  and,  as  already  said  of  cocoon- 
generally,  if  it  come  off  thick,  cold  water  must  be  add- 
ed, until  the  proper  temperature  be  attained.  They 
must  not  be  allowed  to  remain  long  in  the  water,  and 
there  should  be  only  a  few  of  these  cocoons  put  in  a 
a  time.  The  water  for  the  dupions  and  choquettes  mus 
be  changed  four  times  a  day. 

It  may,  perhaps,  be  profitable  to  give  the  views  o 
others,  upon  this  particular  branch  of  the  business,  as 
it  is  the  process  of  reeling  which  imparts  so  much  to 
the  value  of  the  silk.  If  done  indifferently  it  may  no 
be  worth  more  than  four  dollars  per  pound  ;  but  if  wel 
and  skilfully  executed,  it  may  be  worth  from  six  to  se 
ven  dollars  per  pound  according  to  the  demand  and  state 
of  the  market. 

London  says : 

"The  cocoons,  or  produce  of  the  worms,  as  soon  as 
completed,  are  either  reeled  off  or  sold  to  others  to  be 
reeled.  The  silk  as  formed  by  the  worms  is  so  fine 
that  if  each  ball  or  cocoon  was  reeled  separately,  ii 
would  be  entirely  unfit  for  the  purposes  of  the  manu- 
facturer. In  the  reeling,  therefore,  after  the  cococns 
are  cleared  from  the  floss,  the  ends  of  several  are 
joined  and  reeled  together  out  of  warm  water,  which 
softening  their  natural  gum,  makes  them  stick  together 
so  as  to  form  one  strong  smooth  thread.  As  often  as 
any  single  thread  breaks  or  comes  to  an  end,  it  is  sup- 
plied by  a  new  one,  so  that  by  continually  keeping  up 
the  same  number,  the  united  threads  may  be  wound  to 
any  length.  The  single  threads  of  the  newly  added  co- 
coons are  not  joined  by  any  tie  ;  but  simply  laid  on  the 
main  thread,  to  which  they  adhere  by  their  gum  ;  and 
their  ends  are  so  fine  as  not  to  cause  the  least  percepti- 
ble unevenness  in  the  places  where  they  are  laid  on. 
Care  should  be  taken  in  the  operation  that  the  silk 
when  reeled  off  may  consist  of  a  smooth  thread  of  equal 
t-hickness  and  strength  ;  but  of  a  round  form,  having 
the  small  threads  of  which  it  is  composed  as  equally 
stretched  and  firmly  united  as  possible,  and  that  the 
several  rounds  as  they  lie  on  the  reel  should  not  be 
glued  together.  When  the  skein  is  quite  dry  it  is  ta- 
Jjen  off  the  reel,  and  a  tie  is  made  with  some  of  the  re- 
fuse silk  on  that  part  of  the  skein  where  it  bore  upon 
the  bar  of  the  reel,  and  another  tie  on  the  opposite  part 
of  the  skein,  after  which  it  is  doubled  into  a  hank,  and 
usually  tied  round  near  the  extremities,  when  it  is  laid 
by  for  use  or  sale." 

Mr.  Kenrick  in  his  Silk  Grower's  Guide,  states  that 
"the  use  of  the  reel  requires  dexterity  and  practice. 
The  cocoons,  after  being  cleared  of  the  floss,  and 
thrown  by  handaful  into  basins  of  pure  soft  water, 
placed  over  small  furnaces  of  charcoal.  When 
the  water  is  almost  at  boiling  point,  sink  the  cocoons 
with  a  whisk  of  broom  corn  under  water  for  two  or 


three  minutes,  to  soffen  the  gum  and  loosen  the  fibres. 
Then  moving  the  whisk  lightly,  the  filaments  will  ad- 
here to  it,  and  may  be  drawn  off  till  the  flossy  »i)k  is 
unwound,  and  the  fine  silk  comes  off.  A  sufficient  num- 
ber being  collected,  the  reeling  begins.  If  the  pods 
leap  upwards,  the  reel  must  be  slackened  ;  if  the  srlk 
comes  off  in  burrs,  you  must  turn  faster  ;  if  thewateris 
too  hot,  they  furze  in  unwinding,  and  the  fine  lustre  of 
white  silk  is  injured,  and  cold  water  must  be  added.  It 
requires  long  practice  dexterously  to  attend  to  the 
splicing  on  the  fibres,  to  keep  up  an  even  thread,  as  the 
silk  grows  continually  finer  to  the  end  of  the  co- 
coon." 

Mr.  Cobb,  a  practical  culturist  and  extensive  manu- 
facturer gives  the  following  as  the  method  of  reeling 
cocoons  and  manufacturing  silk  in  Connecticut.  "  A 
large  kettle  set  in  a  furnace,  or  in  an  arch,  is  filled  with 
water,  and  fire  is  kept  under  it;  and  when  it  is  about 
to  boil  a  quart  of  cocoons  is  thrown  into  it,"  &c  ;  and 
after  describing  other  preparatory  measures,  he  says-, 
"Keeling  is  then  commenced  on  a  common  hand  reel 
(such  as  is  in  common  use  in  families  in  New  England 
for  reeling  yarn  from  the  spinning  wheel,)  and  the  silk 
fibres  run  off  about  as  fast  and  with  as  little  difficulty  as 
yarn  from  a  spindle.  Some  of  the  cocoons  run  off  be- 
fore others,  and  when  on  this  account  the  thread  be- 
comes too  small,  all  the  fibres  are  broken  off,  and  what 
is  reeled  is  tied  up  by  itself  on  the  reel,  and  another 
quart  is  then  thrown  into  the  kettle  ;  the  ends  are  col- 
lected and  reeled  in  the  same  way  as  before,  and  each 
separate  piece  is  tied  by  itself.  When  the  reel  is  full, 
the  pieces  are  all  tied  together,  taken  off,  and  imme- 
diately dried." 

"Most  of  the  silk  is  manufactured  into  sewing  silk, 
and  twist  in  the  following  manner  :  it  is  immersed  for 
a  few  moments  in  boiling  water,  taken  out,  put  on 
swifts  and  spun  or  twisted,  on  a  common  wool  wheel, 
beginning  at  the  large  end  of  the  piece,  that  is  at  the 
end  which  was  reeled  nrst  ;  and  when  it  becomes  too 
small,  which  is  the  case  when  one-half  or  two-thirds 
is  run  off,  the  small  end  of  another  piece  is  added  to  it, 
and  thus  they  are  twisted  together.  It  is  then  spooled 
directly  off  the  spindle,  a  sufficient  number  of  spools  is 
put  into  a  small  spool  frame  to  make  thread  of  a  proper 
size,  which  is  twisted  again  and  cleansed  by  boiling  in 
strong  suds  for  three  hours,  then  dried  and  colored. 
Undergoing  this  process  it  shrinks  about  one-half  in 
weight:  after  this,  for  sewing  silk,  it  is  doubled,  twist- 
ed and  reeled  on  a  reel  two  yards  long,  and  is  divided 
into  skeins  of  twenty  threads  each,  as  the  statute  of 
the  state  requires.  If  it  be  calculated  for  twist,  it  is 
made  three  threaded,  twisted,  and  done  up  into  sticks 
with  a  small  hand  machine,  and  is  then  ready  for  the 
market.  The  floss  or  tow,  as  it  is  called,  is  boiled  in 
strong  suds  for  three  hours,  dried,  picked,  carded,  and 
spun  on  a  common  wool  wheel.  The  yarn  is  woven  into 
cloth,  usually  worn  by  the  women  for  every  day  gowns  ; 
and  sometimes  manufactured  into  strong  and  durable 
carpets. 

Those  cocoons  that  the  grubs  have  pierced  are  boiled 
as  above  directed  :  the  end  that  is  not  pierced  is  cut  off; 
they  are  then  spun  on  a  linen  wheel  like  worsted,  begin- 
ning at  the  end  cut.  It  is  then  twisted  together,  three 
threaded  and  knit  into  stockings. 

The  imperfect  cocoons,  and  all  that  will  not  reel,  are 
boiled,  carded,  spun  and  manufactured  in  all  respects 
ike  floss,  but  they  make  nicer  and  finer  cloth." 

We  have  been  thus  full  upon  this  part  of  the  subject, 
"or  the  reasons  before  assigned  by  us,  that  it  is  by 
means  of  the  reeling,  &c.  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
irofit  of  the  culturist  arises.  Indeed  it  may  be  said 
hat  those  who  are  now  engaged  in  the  culture  of 
silk,  have  to  look  to  it  for  fully  25  percent,  of  their  pro- 
it,  and  hence  it  becomes  doubly  important  that  it 
liould  be  well  done. 


MODE    OP    MAKING   SEWING    SILK,    AND    SILK  TWI3T  IK  CON- 
NECTICUT. 

Ths  following  is  the  method  followed  in  Connecticut 
as  recommended  to  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  by 
Daniel  Bulkley,  Esquire. 

"  The  raw  silk  is  first  spooled  on  bobbins,  the  num- 
ber of  which  is  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  intended 
thread  from  the  first  spinning,  and,  to  facilitate  the  op- 
eration, they  are  put  into  warm  water.  The  silk  is 
again  spooled,  taking  two  or  three  bobbins,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  intended  thread.  After  being  spun, 
it  is  reeled  into  skeins,  each  of  forty  yards  in  length, 
or  half  a  knot  of  the  country  reel,  as  required  by  a  law 
of  the  state.  About  twenty-five  of  these  skeins  are  put 
together,  like  a  skein  of  cotton  or  woollen  yarn.  They 
are  then  boiled,  adding  a  small  quantity  of  soft  soap,  or 
ley  of  wood  ashes,  to  cleanse  them  from  the  gum,  they 
are  then  ready  for  dying. 

Silk  twist  is  spun  in  the  same  manner,  except  that  it 
is  always  of  three  cords.  The  winding  of  twist  is  done 
on  a  machine  imported  from  England." 

We  have  a  small  establishment  for  spinning  by  water, 
with  a  machine  similar  to  a  throstle  frame  of  a  cotton 
mil).  The  silk  is  first  spooled  by  hand  on  bobbins, 
which  are  placed  on  the  top  of  the  frame  ;  the  thread 
of  raw  silk  passing  from  it  under  a  wire  through  a 
trough  of  water,  then  through  rollers  to  the  spindle. 
A  single  frame  may  contain  from  thirty  to  fifty  spin- 
dles, and  can  be  attended  to  by  one  person.  The  doub- 
ling and  twisting  may  be  done  by  the  same  frame  at 
the  same  time,  by  giving  the  bands  to  a  part  of  the 
spindles  of  a  contrary  direction.  As  many  threads  are 
put  to  a  spindle  as  are  required  to  make  a  thread  of  two 
or  three  cords.  Silk  spun  in  this  way  is  far  superior  to 
that  done  by  hand.  The  machine  will  spin  from  two  to 
three  pounds  in  a  day.  A  pound  of  silk  after  being  spun 
and  cleansed  will  weigh  about  ten  ounces,  and  form  one 
hundred  and  seventy  skeins;  the  threads  of  sufficient 
size  to  sew  woollens.  If  spun  finer,  it  would  make 
more.  It  increases  little  or  nothing  in  weight  when 
dyed.  Silk  is  sold  by  the  skein  ;  one  hundred  of  which 
will  measure  one-third  more  than  half  a  pound  of 
Italian,  or  English  silk,  of  the  same  sized  threads  One 
woman  can  make  from  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds 
of  raw  silk,  in  a  season  of  six  weeks." 

FREPARiTION    OP     WASTE     SILK. 

"  All  the  cocoons  pierced  by  the  moths  ;  those  form- 
ed with  holes  at  one  or  both  ends;  the  light  cocoons 
deemed  improper  for  winding,  after  the  insects  have 
rbeen  cut  out,  or  threshed  out,  and  the  pellicles  remain- 
ing after  winding  of  the  silk,  are  to  be  collected  ;  and 
if  it  be  wished  to  retain  the  yellow  color,  they  are  put 
in  a  copper  kettle  with  water,  and  trampled  with  the 
feet;  turning  the  cocoons,  and  adding  a  little  fresh  wa- 
ter from  time  to  time,  until  it  be  found  that  the  silk 
separates  properly,  upon  tedding  it  out  with  the  fin- 
gers. They  are  then  tied  up  in  a  clean  cloth,  which  is 
dipped  in  a  clear  stream,  or  water  is  poured  on  them, 
until  it  runs  off  without  color,  and  spread  out  to  dry." 

WASTE    WHITE    SILK. 

"  Waste  silk  intended  to  remain  white,  is  to  be  treat- 
ed in  the  following  manner  : 

Put  the  cocoons  in  a  kettle  of  cold  water,  and  let 
them  lie  24  hours  :  then  boil  them  in  a  copper  kettle, 
adding  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  soap  for  every  pound  of 
cocoons  :  when  the  soap  is  dissolved,  tic  up  the  cocoons 
in  a  clean  cloth,  put  it  in  a  kettle,  and  boil  until  the 
cocoons  have  become  white.  The  water  should  entire- 
ly cover  the  cloth  ;  then  take  out  the  cloth,  and  dip  it 
in  a  clear  stream,  or  pour  water  on  it  till  it  comes  off 
clear  ;  then  spread  out  the  cocoons  in  the  sun  to 
dry. 


ON    SPINNING    INFERIOR    QUALITIES   OF    E1LK. 

In  every  filature,  one  or  more  reels  are  devoted  to  the 
spinming  with  the  carrelet,  the  inferior  qualities  of  silk, 
which  cannot  be  spun  on  the  common  reel.  The  car- 
relet, is  thus  described  by  M.  Reynauld,  of  Paris.  Tlce 
frame  is  larger  than  the  common  silk  reel,  and  has 
commonly  a  wheel  with  four  arms.  The  most  essen- 
tial difference  in  the  frames,  is  that  of  the  head  pieces. 
To  these  are  added  a  board  which  carries  two  or  four 
bobbins.  If  there  are  only  two,  they  are  placed  longi- 
tudinally one  above  the  other.  If  two  threads  are  to 
be  wound  at  a  time,  two  other  bobbins  are  added,  and 
placed  between  the  other  two  in  the  same  position.  Af- 
ter the  cocoons  have  been  threshed,  a  number  of  the  fi- 
bres are  collected  to  form  a  thread,  which  is  passed 
through  one  of  the  two  eyes  of  the  board  of  the  bob- 
bins, of  the  same  form  as  that  of  the  traversing  bar  of 
the  silk  reel ;  then  it  is  wound  round  both  bobbins  at 
the  same  time  :  being  first  carried  to  the  first  and  re- 
turning round  the  second,  it  passess  between  them,  giv- 
ing a  twist  to  the  part  of  the  fibre  which  was  extended 
from  one  bobbin  to  the  other.  The  spinner  then  takes 
the  same  end,  and  passes  it  through  the  eye  of  the 
traversing  bar,  and  attaching  it  to  the  wheel,  it  is  set 
in  motion.  If  it  be  wished  to  wind  two  skeins  at  one 
time,  a  second  thread  is  prepared,  and  attached  to  the 
second  pair  of  cylinders  or  bobbins,  whence  it  passed 
through  the  second  eye  of  the  traversing  bar,  and  then 
fixed  to  the  wheel  at  a  proprr  distance  from  the  first 
end. 

The  silk  called  /ram,  which  is  slightly  twisted,  and 
used  for  the  filling  of  stuffs  and  for  inferior  silk  for  bon- 
nets ;  the  dupions  or  double  cocoons,  are  also  reeled  on 
the  carrelet  in  France.  These  latter  require  softening 
in  hot  water  five  or  six  minutes. 

In  France  the  coarse  fibres  taken  off  the  cocoons  and 
laid  aside,  are  called  fantasie ;  it  is  first  boiled,  then 
carded  and  spun  :  the  best  of  it  is  used  for  filling  after 
being  slightly  twisted.'a'nd  the  inferior  for  the  chain  of 
stuffs.  In'  Connecticut  ihe  coarse  thread  of  the  cocoons 
are  made  into  a  ball,  then  reeled,  boiled  in  soap  and 
water,  rinsed,  dried,  cut  into  one  and  a  half  inch  pieces, 
then  carded  on  cotton  cards  and  spun  like  wool  or  cot- 
:on. 

The  pointed  cocoons,  or  such  imperfect  ones,  as  are 
made  by  feeble  worms,  or  in  cold  seasons,  when  the 
.emperature  of  the  apartment  is  not  attended  to,  are 
first  deprived  of  their  gum,  by  being  immersed  in  wa- 
ter, or  soap  and  water,  dried,  and  then  spun  upon  the 
wheel,  and  forms  an  even  and  fine  thread. 

In  Connecticut,  family  sewing  silk  is  made  from  the 
good  cocoons,  from  which  the  moths  have  escaped.  The 
shrivelled  case  of  the  pupa,  and  any  eggs  which  may 
lave  been  deposited  in  the  cocoon,  are  first  taken  out  ; 
.hey  are  then  boiled  in  soap  and  water,  rinsed,  gently 
iqueezed,  dried,  an'd  spun  on  a  foot  wheel.  Knitting 
thread  for  stockings  and  mils,  is  ajso  made  from  them. 
They  make  the  best  sewingsilk,  by  doubling  the  thread, 
reeled  from  cocoons  and  twisting  it  on  the  common 
wheel.  The  skein  is  first  boiled  in  soap  and  water, 
and  it  lies  on  a  dish  containing  enough  soap-suds  to  keep 
t  moist,  while  the  process  of  reeling  is  going  on. 

To  organzine  silk.  The  thread  is  first  twisted  from 
/ight  to  left.  The  silk  in  twisting,  turns  off  on  other 
jobbins  somewhat  larger  than  the  first.  These  bobbins 
are  then  to  be  exposed  to  the  stream  of  water,  to  which 
have  been  added  two  ounces  of  white,  or  castile  soap, 
rthe  latter  best,)  18  ounces  of  olive  oil  and  four  or  five 
pounds  of  wood  ashes  The  bobbins  are  put  in  a  kettle, 
the  bottom  of  which  is  pierced,  and  placed  on  the  ves- 
sel of  water,  when  it  boils  with  a  cloth  over  it,  and 
permitted  to  remain  until  the  silk  begins  to  swell,  and 
to  detach  from  the  bobbins.  They  are  then  to  be  taken 
away,  and  the  second  throw'  or  twist  given  to  the 


60 


threads,  from  left  to  right.     The  combination  of  these 
t«o  threads,  is  called  the  pearl,  as  the  organzirie  looks 
Jike  a  string  of  small  pearls  or  beads.  It  is  easy  to  know 
t  the  second  throw  be  perfect,  by  untwisting  part  of  the 
urganzine,  and  when  it  is  open,  or  slackening  the  hand  a 
Ule,  each  thread    twists  round  itself  in  obedience  to 
the  first  throw  or  twist.     The  water  may  be  filled  up  as 
it  wastes,  but  the  ashes,  soap  and  oil.  arc  to  be  renew- 
ed every  day. 

MACHINERY. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  give  minute  descriptions  of  the 
various  reels,  looms,  and  other  machinery  used  in  the 
preparation  and  manufacture  of  silk.  Such  an  occupa- 
tion of  our  pages,  we  deem  wholly  unnecessary,  be- 
cause it  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  farmers  will  desire 
to  become  manufacturers  of  such  implements,  and,  in- 
deed, if  they  were  so  disposed,  the  immunities  of  the  pa- 
tent  law  would  prevent  them.  We  shall,  therefore, 
content  ourself  with  enumerating  such  of  the  most 
prominent  inventions,  as  appear  to  us,  by  their  merit, 
to  demand  notice.  Indeed,  more  than  this,  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  improvement,  when  the  spirit  of  emulation 
is  emphatically  abroad,  would  be  worse  than  superero- 
gatory. Any  individual  entering  into  the  silk  culture, 
will,  as  a  matter  of  sheer  prudence,  in  the  exercise  of 
a  sound  discrimination,  piocure  for  himself  the  best  of 
all  such  machinery  as  he  may  require  to  carry  on  such 
branches  of  the  business,  as  it  may  be  his  peculiar  plea- 
sure to  engage  in  ;  and  with  respect  to  the  prosecution  of 
the  business  by  manufacturing  companies,  they  will  not 
require  to  be  reminded  of  what  particular  kinds  of  ma- 
•chinery,  or  implements,  they  will  need,  their  interest 
will  at  once  dictate  the  procurement  of  such  as  is  best 
adapted  to  the  uses,  to  which  they  intend  to  appropri- 
ate them. 

The  brief  notice  below  will  suffice  for  all  profitable 
uses  of  the  farmer  or  planter  : 

1.  The  silk  reel,  of  Piedmont.i 

2.  Gideon  It.  Smith's   improved   silk  reel— being  an 
improvement  upon  the  above,  the  operation  being  great- 
ly simplified. 

3.  Brooks1  patent  silk  spinning  and   reeling  machine. 
This  is  represented  as  being  a  very  simple  and  easy  op- 
erating machine,  and  yet  one  of  the  most  perfect  that 
has  been  invented  for  the  purpose  of  reeling  and  twist- 
ing silk  from  the  cocoons,  and   manufacturing  it  into 
sewing  silk. 

4.  Gay  and  Moseky's  reel,  and  silk  power  loom.  The  fol- 
lowing description  of  the  latter  improved  machinery 
we  copy  from  that  excellent  and  sensibly  conducted  pe- 
riodical, »  The  Silk   Worm,"  published  at  Albany,  New 
York,  and  edited  by  Samuel  Blydenburgh,  Esquire.— 
u  "™  J  1J?C  imProved  system  of  winding  silk,  invented 
by  Mr.  Gay,  many  and  important  advantages  are  gain- 
ed ;  but  gull  it  will  not  altogether  supercede  the  use  o 
the  reel.     By  his  plan  the  silk  is  wound  on  spools  from 
the  cocoons.    In  this  state  it  is  not  liable  to  tatgle  as 
when  in  skeins.     When  once  wound  in   a  contiguoui 
thread  on  the  spools,  it  may  be  kept  any  length  of  time 
and  carried  any  distance.,  without  injury.     It  will  be 
in  the  same  state  of  keeping,  as  the  spools  of  cotton 
thread,  and  may  always  be  wound  off  in  the  same  entir 
thread  as  it  was  wound  on. 

When  the  silk  is  intended  to  be  sold  to  the  manufac 
turer  even  to  the  merchant,  this  is  infinitely  the  safes 
way  in  which  it  can  be  preserved.     When  in  the  skeii 
it  is  always  liable  to  injuries,  either  in  keeping  or  in 
trasportation. 

If  the  silk  is  cultivated  near  to  where  it  is  to  be  manu 
factured,  the  manufacturer  can  furnish  the  spools 
weighing  them  «s  they  are  delivered  out,  and  deduct 
ing  the  weight  of  the  spools  when  returned  from  th 
silk.  If  it  is  to  go  through  several  hands,  the  spool 


nay  be  made  of  an  exact  given  weight,  and  warranted 
ot  to  weigh  more. 

The  whole  process  of  winding  is,  by  this  plan,  not 
endered  much  more  simple  and  easy  to  learn,  but  is  in- 
nitely  more  convenient,  as  it  will  be  done  by  a  little 
mig  machine,  which  will  be  no  inconvenience  at  the 
reside,  while  the  regular  silk  reel  is  much  more  cutn- 
TOUS  and  would  scarcely  find  room  in  a  small  dwell- 
"g- 

But  in  nearly  all  cases,  where  the  silk  is  to  be  manu- 
actured,  it  will  still  have  to  be  reeled  from  these 
)obbins,  or  spools,  into  hanks  or  skeins.  This,  howev- 
er, is  no  objection  to  winding  it  originally  on  spools,  for 
he  saving  and  other  advantages  which  result  from 
Beeping  and  preserving  the  silk  on  spools,  overbal- 
.nce  the  trouble  of  two  windings." 

g#-\Ve  take   pleasure  in   stating,  that   these  ma- 
hines  may  be  obtained  on  application  to  Samuel  Bly- 
lenburgh,  Esquire,  Albany,  New  York. 

Speaking  of  the  machinery  of  Mr.Gay  and  his  partner, 
ilr.  Moseley,  Judge  Ambrose  Spencer,  of  Albany,  New 
York,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  A.  H.  Brown,  of  Frederick 
Bounty,  Md.  makes  the  following  remarks,  which 
hrough  the  politeness  of  the  latter  gentleman,  we  are 
>ermitted  to  copy  : 

"  I  am  personally  acquainted  with  Mr.  Gay  :  he  is, 
ndeed,  a  very  ingenious  man  :  independent'of  the  reel 
nvented  by  him  and  Moseley,  he,  or  they,   have  sim- 
>lified   all  the  machinery  necessary  for  the   manufac- 
ure  of  silk,  and  there  is  now  in  operation  at  Provi- 
dence, under  Mr.  Gay's  direction,   a  manufactory  of 
silk,  the  stock  in  which  has  sold  for  more  man  100  per 
cent. .advance.     He  sent  me  a  pattern  for  a  vest,  equal 
to  any  imported.     He  finds  that  the  power  loom,  by 
vhich  cotton  has  been  woven,  may  be  successfully  used 
'or  the  weaving  of  silk.     Mr.  Gay  is  the  very  man  to 
^ive  or  furnish  instruction  in  the  art  of  reeling,  and  to 
establish  a  manufactory,  furnishing  all  the  necessary 
machinery." 

And  in  addition  to  this  high  encomium  upon  the  mer- 
its of  Mr.  Gay  and  his  machinery,  we  have  seen  it 
stated,  that  his  red  is  so  simple  in  its  construction,  as 
that  any  woman  can  acquire  sufficient  knowledge  of  its 
use,  in  two  hours  instruction,  to  become  a  tolerably  ex- 
pert reeler. 

5.  Terhoeven's  winding,  doubling  and  twisting  machine. 
This  is  represented  as  a  simple  machine,  invented  by 
Messrs.  Terhoevens,  of  Philadelphia,  used  for  winding 
silk  from  cocoons,  and  for  doubling  and  twisting  the 
thread  at  the  same  time. 

6.  Cobb's  reel.    This  is  an  invention  of  Mr.   J.  H. 
Cobb,  of  Massachusetts,  and  it  is  stated  to  be  a  most 
efficient  machine,  combining  in  an  eminent  degree  sim- 
plicity with  power. 

There  are  many  other  reeling  machines,  of  European 
and  American  inventions,  as  well  as  numerous  silk 
looms,  twisting  machines,  draw  boys,  ribbon  looms, 
looms  for  weaving  plain  and  figured  stuffs,  and  power 
and  other  looms,  and  inventions,  of  one  kind  or  another, 
out  of  number  ;  but  as  our  work  is  intended  for  farmers' 
and  planters,  who,  we  presume,  will  scarcely  ever  car- 
ry the  business  beyond  converting  the  cocoons  into  raw 
silk,  we  consider  that,  in  noticing  the  machines  herein 
recited,  we  have  accomplished  all  that  need  be  required 
by  those  for  whose  accommodation  we  have  ventured 
to  compile  this  work.  Indeed,  so  far  as  the  interests  of 
the  husbandman  is  concerned,  except  lor  the  purposes 
of  domestic  use,  such  as  sewing  silk,  knitting  of  stock- 
ings, and  the  fabrication  of  an  occasional  dress  for  the 
females  of  the  family,  we  should  doubt  the  propriety 
of  his  carrying  the  silk  culture  beyond  the  point  of 
reeling.  Having  effected  that,  we  think,  he  should  be 
content  to  transfer  the  business  of  all  subsequent  labor 
upon  the  commodity,  to  the  hands  of  the  manufacturer, 


leaving  his  factor  to  settle  the  questions  with  respect 
to  who  that  should  he, — or  whether  he  should  find  for  it 
a  foreign  or  domestic  market, 

MAUKKT    FOR     THE    SILK. 

The  disposal  of  the  silk  after  it  shall  have  been  raised, 
being  an  object  of  the  first  importance,  it  seems  oppor- 
tune that  we  should  say  a  word  or  two  with  respect  to 
Ifee  markets.  By  a  letter  of  Judge  Ambrose  Spencer, 
H  is  stated,  that  the  import  of  silk  amounts  to  the 
value  of  $10,000,000,  <mnu<i%,  and  as  he  very  justly 
remarks,  this  will  increase  with  our  wealth  and  popu- 
lation. Thus  we  have  a  domestic  market,  to  this  enor- 
mous amount, inviting  theAmerican  husbandman  to  sup- 
ply it.  And  already  various  manufactories  in  the  states 
of  New  York,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  and  Massa- 
chusetts, have  been  established,  to  convert  the  raw  silk 
into  stuffs  of  various  descriptions,  and  so  confident  are 
th«  calculating  people  of  that  intelligent  and  enterpris- 
ing portion  of  our  country,  of  the  entire  and  triumphant 
success  of  the  silk  busine-s,  that  companies  and  indi- 
viduals are  in  every  direction  of  it,  entering  with  spirit 
into  the  culture  and  manufacture  of  silk.  Indeed,  so 
rapid  have  been  the  multiplication  of  establishments 
for  its  manufacture,  that  the  demand  for  the  raw  mate- 
rial, greatly  exceeds  the  supply,  and  at  the  present  mo- 
ment almost  any  quantity  of  cocoons  or  raw  silk,  would  find 
a  really  and  profitable  market,  in  any  of  the  principal 
eastern  cities.  The  price  of  raw  silk,  we  have  seen 
quoted  at  $4  per  pound,  and  that  of  cocoons  at  §3  a 
bushel.  We  have  never  counted  the  number  of  cocoons 
contained  in  a  bushel  ;  but  from  haying  measured  and 
counted  a  quart,  we  should  think  that  from  4,000  to 
5,000,  according  to  their  size  and  perfection,  would 
make  a  bushel  of  cocoons.  The  only  thing  like  a  cal- 
culation upon  this  part  of  the  subject,  that  we  have 
been  able  to  lay  our  hands  upon,  we  found  in  the  very 
interesting  letter  of  William  B.  Buchanan,  Esquire,  in 
which  he  speaks  of  1,500  worms  making  ah  ant  three 
pecks  of  cocoons.  If  kis  measure  be  the  correct  one,  then, 
two  thousand  would  make  a  bushel,  but  we  incline  to 
think  that  an  average,  of  any  considerable  quantity,  would 
take  fully  the  number  assumed  by  us. 

Besides  the  domestic  market   just  spoken  of,   France 
imports   annually  between  $5,000,000  and   $6,000,000 
worth  of  raw  silk,  and  this,  too,  notwithstanding  she  is 
a  silk   growing  country.     And   England,  owing  to  the 
humidity  of  her  climate,    being  unable    to  raise  in 
worms  lo  advantage,  has  to  draw  all  the  raw  material 
for  her  numerous  silk  manufactories,  from  distant  coun- 
tries, and  we  have  seen    the   annual  average  amount 
consumed  by  them  from   182 1  to   1828,  a  period  of  7 
years,  stated  at  $17,255,368.     Thus  then,  in  our  home 
market,  and  in  the  markets  of  France  and  England,  we 
find  a  demand  for  raw  silk,  annually,  of  about  $33,000,- 
000,  which,  as  those  countries  respectfully  expand  ir 
population  and  wealth, must  increase  in  a  corresponded 
ratio  ;  and  no  one  will  pretend  to  affirm,  that,  if  we  sup- 
ply the  article  upon  as  good  terms  as  other  nations,  w 
will  not  have  an  equal  chance  with  them  in  so  doing 
And   here  we  would  ask,   what  can    prevent  us,  will 
our  advantages  of  locality,  of  climate,  extensive  do 
mains,  and  soil, from  at  once  becoming  successful  rival 
in  every  market  where  the  raw  silk  material  is  demand 
ed  ?     There  is  nothing  within  the  range  of  probability 
that  can  operate  unfavorably  to  our  competition,  un 
less,  indeed,  it  be  our  own  supineness — our  culpable  ii 
difference — our  criminal  neglect — to  add  toourproduc 
tions,  a  staple  commodity,   which  will,  if  prosecute 
with  vigor  and  intelligence  for  ten  years, equal,  if  it  doe 
not  exceed,  our  exportation  of  cotton,  without  interfei 
ing  in  the  least  with  its  consumption.  As  it  has  been  for 
cibly  observed  by  Judge  Spencer,  our  import  uf  silk  stu/ 
already  exceed  our  entire  export  of  breadstuff's.  This  is  a 
important  fact,  because,  with  the  facilities  of  manufac- 
turing already  established  and  being  established,  we 


ave  at  our  own  doors,  a  market  greatly  exceeding  in. 
tmmd  any  supply  which  for  several  years  the  country 
'ill  be  able  to  furnish,  and  at  prices  loo,  which  offer 
rie  most  generous  rewards  to  the  labor  of  the  agricul- 
urist. 

If  it  be  said  that  these  markets  are  to  the  eashoard, 
mote  from  the  great  Mulberry  regions  of  the  middle 
nd  southern  stales,  we  affirm  that  agencies  for  the  pur- 
hase  of  raw  silk,  will  rise  up  in  every  district  and  city 
f  those  regions,  so  soon  as  the  article  shall  be  grown 
herein  in  sufficient  quantities  to  make  it  an  object. 
Therefore,  no  farmer  or  planter  should  permit  such  a 
bought  to  enter  his  mind,  as  there  is  nothing  more  cer- 
ain  than  that  markets  and  capital  will  spring  up,  and  be 

mployed  wherever  and  whenever  profit  is  to  be  made, 

nterest  and  emolument,  being;  with  merchants,  as 
vith  every  body  else,  the  great  ruling  motives  by 
vhich  their  actions  are  governed  in  matters  of  trade. 

DISBANDING  OF  SILK  FROM  THE  REEL. 

The  Treasury  Manual  has  the  following,  and  as 
ive  see  it  copied  by  the  Silk  Culturist,  published  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  by  the  Hartford  county  Silk  So- 
:iety,  in  the  midst  of  the  silk  culture  country,  we  take 
t  for  granted  that  it  is  the  approved  method. 

"  The  single  fibres  of  which  the  thread  is  composed, 
are  liable  to  suffer  very  different  degrees  of  stretching- 
as  they  are  wound  from  the  cocoons.  If  the  cocoons  are 
not  well  sorted,  this  different  degree  of  extension  will  be 
he  greater  ;  and  even  when  they  are  sorted,  they 
must  still  be  subject  to  the  same,  because  some  are  a  lit- 
.le  longer  in  the  water  than  others,  and,  therefore  give 
heir  silk  easier  ;  and  also,  the  weak  latter  ends  of 
ome  cocoons  wind  off  with  the  strong  first  part  of 
others.  The  fibres  being  thus  strelched  unequally,  will 
occasion  when  the  skein  is  taken  from  the  reel  too  sud- 
denly, those  fibres  which  are  most  stretched  to  contract 
more  than  the  others,  by  which  their  union  will  be  in 
some  measure  destroyed,  and  the  thread  composed  of 
.hem  rendered  less  compact  and  firm,  the  fibres  appear- 
ng  in  several  places  disjoined  from,  one  another.  To 
•emedy  this,  the  skein  should  remain  there  six  or  eight 
lours,  until  the  unequal  exlerision  which  it  suffered  in 
winding  is,  by  the  stretch  which  it  undergoes  on  the 
reel,  brought  nearer  to  an  equality  ;  and,  until  the- 
thread,  by  being  well  dried,  has  its  fibres  firmly  united. 
When  the  skein  is  quite  dry,  proceed  to  disband  it 
from  the  reel.  First,  squeeze  it  together  all  around,  to 
loosen  it  upon  the  bars  ;  then,  with  a  thread  made  of 
the  refuse  silk,  tie  it  on  that  place  where  it  bore  on 
the  bars  of  the  reel :  then  slide  it  off  the  reel,  and 
make  another  tie  on  the  part  opposite  to  the  one  first 
made  ;  after  which,  double  it,  and  tie  it  near  each  ex- 
tremity, and  then  lay  it  by  for  use  or  sale,  in  a  dry 
place.  When  the  skein  is  finished,  there  should  be  a 
mark  tied  to  the  end  of  the  thread,  otherwise  it  may  be 
difficult  to  find  it,  if  it  mixes  with  the  thiead  of  the 
skein. 

CLEANSING    AND    UNGUMMING    SILK. 

"  The  operation  consists  of  depriving  silk  of  the  prin- 
ciples which  affect  its  whiteness. 

Make  up  the  silk  into  hunks,  that  is  to  say,  run  a 
thread  around  each  hank,  which  consists  of  a  certain 
quantity  of  skeins  tied  together.  After  that,  the  hanks 
are  to  be  united,  and  several  of  them  to  be  bound  to- 
gether, to  make  up  a  bundle,  the  sizes  and  names 
whereof  vary  according  to  the  nature  of  the  article 
manufactured. 

After  this  operation,  soap  is  to  be  dissolved  in  water, 
heated  in  a  kettle  in  trie  proportion  of  15  Ibs.  of  s»ap 
to  100  Ibs.  of  silk.  Cut  the  soap  into  small  slices  to 
promote  its  solution.  After  the  soap  has  been  dissolved, 
the  kettle  is  to  be  filled  with  fresh  water,  which  should 
be  pure,  free  from  calcareous  impregnation,  but  not  in 
unnecessary  quantities,  in  order  to  avoid  increasing  the 


proportion  of  injurious  salts,  and  weakening  the  forci 
of  the  solvent.  The  proper  proportions  for  this  opera 
tior^  as  ascertained  after  many  experiments  on  a  largi 
scale,  are  7  or  8  Ibs.  of  water,  to  1  of  silk — 1-12  0 
1-6  is  sufficient  for  the  greater  number  of  colors  :  for 
yellow,  unbleached  silks,  it  is  necessary  to  add  from  50 
to  €0  per  cent.  ;  for  unbleached  white  silks,  25  per 
cent,  of  soap.  The  water  being  in  the  kettle,  the  door 
®f  the  furnace  closed,  leaving  only  a  few  live  coals  in 
it,  in  order  that  the  bath  may  be  kept  quite  hot,  bul 
Vithout  boiling  ;  for  Dr.  Bancroft  says,  that  silk  ought 
never  to  be  submitted  to  a  boiling  heat,  either  when 
the  mordant  is  applied,  or  afterwards  in  the  dying  op- 
eration, as  a  high  temperature,  besides  injuring  the 
texture  and  lustre  of  the  silk,  would  detatch  and  sep- 
arate the  mordant,  before  the  coloring  matter  could 
have  combined,  and  produced  an  insoluble  union  with 
both.  Those  eminent  French  chemists  Ttienard  and 
Roard,  also  confirm  Mr.  Bancroft's  views. 

Whilst  this  bath  is  preparing,  the  hanks  are  to  be  put 
upon  the  pegs  or  pins,  and  when  the  bath  is  ready,  the 
silk  is  to  be  put  into  it,  and  left  therein,  until  all  the 
part  dipped  is  wholly  freed  from  its  gum  ;  which  will 
be  easily  seen,  by  the  v/hiteness  and  flexibility  which 
Ihe  silk  acquires  when  deprived  of  it.  The  hanks  are 
•then  placed  again  on  the  rods,  to  undergo  the  same  op- 
eration in  the  parts  not  yet  steeped  ;  they  are  then  to 
!be  taken  out  of  the  bath,  in  proportion  as  they  are 
found  divested  of  their  gum. 

The  silk,  thus  ungummed,  is  to  be  wrung  upon 
the  pins  to  remove  the  soap  in  it ;  then  to  be  dressed, 
by  being  arranged  upon  the  pins  and  upon  the  hands, 
in  order  to  disentangle  it ;  then  a  cord  is  to  be  run 
through  the  hanks,  to  keep  them  down  during  the  boil- 
ing. About  8  or  9  hanks  may  be  placed  on  a  line.  Af- 
ter this  the  silks  are  to  be  put  into  bags  of  strong  coarse 
linen.  These  bags  are  to  be  put  14  or  15  inches  wide 
and  4  or  5  feet  long,— closed  at  both  ends,  but  open 
lengthwise.  When  the  silk  is  put  in  them  they  mus 
toe  stitched  up — each  bag  will  hold  30  Ibs.  of  silk. 

The  silk  thus  bagged  is  to  be  submitted  to  a  similar 
«oap  bath,  as  above  described,  to  undergo  a  boiling  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  ;  when  it  begins  to  boil  over,  it  is 


•to  be  checked  by  adding  cold  water.  The  bags  during 
boiling  must  be  often  stirred  to  prevent  the  silk  from 
burning.  This  operation  is  performed  with  silk  intend- 
ed lo  remain  white. 

BOILING  SILK  TO  BE  DYED  WHITE. 

For  boiling  silks  intended  for  common  colors,  20  Ibs. 
of  soap  to  100  Ibs.  of  raw  silk.  The  process  of  boiling 
the  same,  as  the  first  described,  with  this  difference 
only,  that  as  the  silk  is  not  to  be  freed  from  its  gum, 
the  boiling  is  to  be  continued  three  hours  and  a  half, 
taking  care  to  fill  up  from  time  to  time  with  water. 

If  the  silks  are  intended  to  be  dyed  blue,  or  iron 
gray,  sulphur,  or  other  colors,  which  require  to  be  set 
in  a  very  deep  white  ground,  in  order  to  acquire  the  de- 
sired beauty,  there  are  to  be  used  30  Ib?.  of  soap  to  100 
Ibs.  of  silk,  and  the  boiling  to  be  continued  three  or 
four  hours.  After  being  supposed  to  be  boiled  enough, 
Jet  the  bags  be  raised  with  a  stick,  placed  on  a  frame, 
and  examined  if  there  be  any  parts  where  the  liquid 
ha«  not  penetrated.  This  is  easily  ascertained  by  the 
yellow  and  a  certain  kind  of  slime  remaining  on  those 
parts.  Should  this  defect  be  discovered^  the  bags  of 
silk  must  be  again  boiled  until  it  be  remedied.  The  loss 
in  boiling:  is  about  one-fourth  in  weight. 

SULPHURING. 

The  silks  to  be  sulphured, should  be  extended  on  poles, 
placed  7  or  8  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  high  apartment 
without  a  chimney,  where  the  air  may  freely  circulate 
by  leaving  the  windows  and  door  open.  For  every  100 
Ibs.  of  silk,  take  1  1-2  pounds  of  roll  brimstone,  put  it 
into  an  earthen  pan  or  iron  kettle,  at  the  bottom  of 


which  a  layer  of  ashes  is  to  be  placed  ;  pound  the  rolte 
of  brimstone  coarsely  ;  then  set  fire  to  it  and  smoke 
the  silk  during  the  night.  The  next  day  the  door 
and  windows  are  to  be  opeaed,  to  let  the  smell  of  the 
brimstone  escape  and  dry  the  silk.  If  the  silk  should 
not  thus  be  dried,  apply  live  coals  in  chaffing  dishes  or 
some  other  convenience. 

ALUMING. 

After  having  washed  the  silks,  and  divested  them  of 
the  soap  by  giving  them  a  boiling,  pass  a  cord  through 
them  as  when  they  are  to  be  boiled;  then  take  50  Ibs.  of 
alum,  for  50  buckets  of  water — (dissolve  the  alum  first 
in  hot  water,)  stir  it  well  on  emptying  the  solution  of 
alum  into  the  tub,  and  it  will  prevent  congelation. 
This  bath  will  answer  for  150  Ibs.  of  silk  to  be  steeped 
in  it  until  the  solution  begins  to  have  a  fetid  smell.  The 
silk  should  not  be  put  in  until  it  is  perfectly  cold.  If 
the  alum  water  should  appear  too  weak,  more  alum  is 
to  be  added. 

PROCESS    OF    DYING  SILK. 

A    HANDSOME     YELLOW. 

^Note. — The  following  receipts  are  proportioned  to   10 
Ibs.  of  silk  previously  boiled.] 

Take  H  Ib.  of  alum 

20  Ibs.  common  Lady's   (St.  Mary's)  Thistle    • 

•J   Ib.  wood  ashes. 

Dissolve  the  alum  in  a  kettle  containing  ten  buckets 
of  water,  pour  the  solution  into  a  vat,  fix  your  silk  upon 
•ods,  in  the  usual  way,  steep  it  in  the  solution,  work  it 
well  therein  for  an  hour,  take  it  out,  and  lay  it  aside 
wet,  for  further  use. 

This  being  done,  put  ten  buckets  of  water  in  a  kettle, 
add  the  St.  Mary's  Thistle,  and  boil  it  well  fora  quarter 
f  an  hour,  run  the   decoction  through   a  sieve  into   a 
ail,  to  separate  the  coarse  parts  from  it;  let  it  cool,  un- 
il  you  will  be  able  to  bear  your  hands  in  it,  steep  the 
silk  in  the  liquor,  work  it  well  therein  for  half  an  hour; 
then   take  it  out,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  aside,  in    its  wet 
state  for  further  use. 

The  pails  or  vessels  in  which  you  dress  the  silk  with 
alum,  and  in  which  the  liquor  is,  must  be  filled,  and 
kept  full,  during  the  process  of  working  it,  to  within  a 


few  inches  of  the  top;  and.  should  there  be  occasion  to 
fill  up,  or  to  increase  the  quantity  of  liquor  with  water, 
care  must  be  taken  not  to  make  it  too  cool,  but  to  pre- 
serve, at  all  times,  a  degree  of  heat,  in  which  the  han4 
can  be  barely  held.  While  this  is  doing,  the  St.  Mary's 
thistle  must  be  put  into  the  kettle  a  second  time,  with 
fresh  water,  and  be  boiled  again.  Then  take  out  the 
silk,  dip  out  some  of  the  liquor,  in  which  you  had  pre-r 
viously  worked  the  silk,  and  add  as  much  of  the  liquor 
of  the  second  boiling  to  it  as  Was  taken  therefrom,  so 
that  the  first  quantity  will  be  preserved.  The  liquor 
must  now,  as  well  as  each  time  before  you  steep  the 
silk  in  it,  be  stirred  well;  then  steep  the  silk  in  the  li- 
quor again,  and  work  it  well  therein  for  half  an  hour, 

The  liquor  may,  in  this  latter  process,  be  made  a  little 
hotter  than  it  was  in  the  first;  but  be  cautious  not  to 
make  it  too  hot,  as  the  silk  would  be  considerably  in- 
jured thereby. 

During  this  second  process  the  wood  ashes  are  to  be 
dissolved  in  a  kettle,  into  which  you  have  poured  some 
of  the  liquor  of  the  second  colouring,  boiling  hot;  stir 
ihe  liquor  and  wood  ashes  well,  and  then  let  it  settle. 
This  being  done,  pour  some  of  the  clear  part  of  the  so- 
ution  into  the  yellow  liquor,  after  having  first  taken 
out  the  silk,  stir  the  whole  of  it  well,  steep  the  silk 
n  it  again,  and  work  it  well  therein  during  fifteen  min- 
utes. At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  or  sooner,  as  you 
may  deem  it  necessary,  take  out  a  small  quantity  of  the 
silk,  wring  it,  and  examine  whether  it  has  retained  the 
required  colour;  should  this  not  be  the  case,  a  small 
[uantity  of  the  solution  of  wood  ashes  must  be  added  to 


63 


the  liquor,  the  silk  steeped  in  it  again,  and  well  worked 
in  the  same,  until  the  required  colour  be  obtained. 

A    CITRON    YELLOW. 

Take  1  1-4  Ib.  of  alum 

8         Ibs.  of  safflour 

1-4  Ib.  of  alum. 
Dissolve  the  alum  in  a  kettle  containing  ten  buckets 
of  water;  then  pour  the  solution  into  a  vat,  steep  the 
silk  in  it,  work  it  well  therein  for  half  an  hour,  wring 
it,  lay  it  by  in  its  wet  state,  for  further  use,  and  throw 
away  the  solution  of  alum  as  useless.  Put  again  ten 
buckets  of  fresh  water  in  the  kettle,  add  eight  pound 
of  safflour  and  1-4  Ib.  alum,  let  it  boil  for  half  an  hour, 
run  the  solution  through  a  sieve  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk 
in  the  liquor,  work  it  well  therein  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
wring  and  dry  it,  fix  it  on  the  wringing  post,  wring  and 
beat  it  well. 

With  the  rest  of  the  above  liquor,  a  pale  yellow  may 
yet  be  dyed. 

A  CITRON  YELLOW,  which  may  be  heightened  to  a  hand- 
some gold  tint. 

Take  1  1-4  Ib.  of  alum, 

14        Ibs.  of  safflour, 
1-4  Ib.  of  alum, 

Put  ten  buckets  of  water  in  a  kettle,  add  one  and  a 
quarter  pounds  of  alum,  dissolve  it  therein,  pour  the 
solution  into  a  vat,  and  work  the  silk  in  the  solution  for 
about  half  an  hour,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  by  in  its  wet 
state,  for  further  use. 

This  being  done,  pour  ten  buckets  of  fresh  water  into 
the  kettle,  add  seven  pounds  of  safflour,  and  boil  it  half 
tin  tiour,  pour  the  liquor  through  a  sieve  into  a  vat  and 
work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  fifteen  minutes; 
then  wring  and  dry  it.  The  yellow  liquor  is  now  to  be 
poured  back  into  the  kettle,  the  remaining  seven  pounds 
of  the  safflour  to  be  put  into  it,  together  with  a  quarter 
of  a  pound  of  alum,  and  the  whole  to  be  boiled  half  an 
hour;  then  pour  the  liquor  through  a  sieve  into  a  pail, 
work  the  silk  well  in  the  liquor  for  half  an  hour,  wring 
and  dry  it  and  then  beat  it  well.  By  the  above  process, 
a  handsome  citron  yellow  may  be  obtained. 

A  CITRON  YELLOW,  in  a  different  way. 

Take  1  1-4  Ibs.  of  alum, 

7         Ibs.  of  French  berries. 

Pi4  the  alum  into  a  kettle,  with  eight  buckets  of  wa- 
ter; \vhen  dissolved,  pour  it  into  a  bucket,  immerse  the 
silk  in  the  solution,  work  it  well  therein  for  half  an 
hour,  take  it  out,  and  lay  it  aside  for  further  use  in  its 
wet  state,  and  throw  away  the  solution.  Then  boil  ten 
buckets  of  fresh  water,  put  into  it  the  French  berries, 
T>oil  it  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  pour  it  through  a 
sieve  into  a  bucket,  and  immerse  it  in  the  liquor,  work 
it  well  therein  for  half  an  hour,  wri-ng  it,  fix  it  on  the 
wringing  post  in  the  usual  manner.  To  make  this  color 
deeper  or  brighter,  take  more  or  less  than  the  above 
quantity  of  the  French  berries. 

If  the  liquor,  after  this  process,  still  retains  some  of 
its  yellow  properties,  it  may  be  used  to  color  ten  pounds 
of  silk,  previously  prepared  in  a  solution  of  alum,  to  a 
pale  yellow,  or  to  lay  at  least  the  ground  for  a  handsome 
gold  tint. 

A  CITRON  YELLOW,  in  another  manner. 

Take  2  Ibs.  of  alum, 

6  Ibs.  of  Quercitron  bark,  ground. 
Put  the  alum  in  a  kettle,  with  ten  buckets  of  fresh 
water,  dissolve  it  therein,  and  pour  the  solution  into  a 
vat,  immerse  the  silk  in  it,  and  work  it  well  therein  for 
two  hours;  wring  it,  lay  it  aside  wet  for  further  use,  and 
throw  away  your  solution  of  alum  as  useless.  Then 
pour  into  a  kettle  ten  buckets  of  fresh  water,  and  put 
the  ground  Quercitron  into  it;  boil  this  one  hour,  take 
it  out,  run  the  decoction  through  a  seive  into  a  pail,  im- 


merse it  into  the  liquor,  and  work  it  well  an  hour  in 
the  solution  ;  after  which  it  is  to  be  taken  out,  wrung 
and  dried  ;  fix  it  on  the  wringing  post,  wring  it  again, 
&c.,  when  it  will  have  acquired  a  beautiful  citron  yel- 
low. The  remaining  yellow  liquor  may  be  used  for 
other  purposes,  and  may  therefore  be  preserved.  I  will' 
now  give  the  necessary  direction  for  coloring  a  hand- 
some pale  yellow,  with  the  above  remains  of  tha 
yellow  liquor. 

A    PALB     TELLOW. 

Take  2  Ibs.  of  alum. 

Prepare  the  silk  with  alum,  as  directed  in  the  fore- 
going receipt,  and  lay  it  away  for  further  use.  Then 
warm  the  liquor,  which  has  been  used  in  the  coloring 
of  the  foregoing  operation  ;  put  it  into  a  pail,  immerse 
it  in  the  liquor,  and  work  it  well  therein,  for  the  space 
of  half  an  hour.  This  being  done,  take  it  out,  wring  it, 
fix  it  on  the  wringing-  post,  wring  and  beat  it  well, 
which  will  give  it  a  gloss.  It  is  not  necessary  that  silk 
should  be  rinsed  in  yellow  coloring. 

Several   Directions  for  Dying  with 
QUERCITRON  BARK. 

A  CITRON  YELLOW. 

Take  3  Ibs.  of  alum,  and 

1  Ib.  3  ounces  of  Quercitron  bark. 

Put  the  alum  in  a  kettle,  with  ten  buckets  of  water  ; 
let  it  dissolve  therein,  pour  the  solution  into  a  pail, 
immerse  the  silk  in  the  solution,  and  work  it  well  there- 
in, a  little  longer  than  usual  ;  take  it  out,  wring  and 
rinse  it,  and  lay  it  by  for  further  use,  in  its  wet  state  ; 
put  ten  buckets  of  fresh  water  into  a  kettle,  warm  it, 
put  the  quercitron  in  a  bag,  and  boil  it  until  the 
strength  is  extracted.  Then  immerse  the  silk  in  the  li- 
quor, and  work  it  well  therein  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
which  will  produce  a  handsome  lively  citron  yellow. 

A    HIGH     COLORED     YELLOW. 

This  color  may  be  heightened  to  its  utmost  extent  of 
yellow,  by  adding  a  few  half  ounces  of  soda,  more  or 
less,  according  to  the  deep  or  bright  shades  of  color 
desired,  to  the  above  yellow  liquor  ;  but  this  must  not 
be  done  until  the  silk  has  been  completely  saturated 
with  the  yellow  liquor  of  quercitron. 

ORANGE     COLOR. 

Orange  color  is  obtained  by  adding  to  the  liquor  at 
the  same  time  with  the  soda,  a  proportional  quantity  of 
annatto,  and  by  working  it  in  this  liquor  until  the  de- 
sired color  has  been  obtained. 

PALE  YELLOW,  OR  STRAW  COLOR. 

Take  less  alum  and  quercitron,  and  dispense  altogeth- 
er with  the  soda  and  annatto. 


To  produce  the  many  different  shades  of  this  color, 
proceed  with  the  quercitron  in  the  same  manner  as  di- 
rected in  the  dying  of  the  same  colors  with  turmeric 
and  wild  (dyer's  weed.)  But  you  must  bear  in  mind 
that  one  pound  of  the  quercitron,  will  produce  as  much 
as  ten  pounds  of  either  the  turmeric  or  wild. 

A    VERY     LIVELY    GLOSSY   YELLOW. 

If  you  desire  to  increase  the  above  yellow  to  its  most 
lively  and  glossy  hue,  take  instead  of  the  alum,  a  solution 
of  tin,  dissolved  in  a  mixture  of  three  parts  of  the  spir- 
its of  salt,  and  one  part  of  aquafortis.  This  solution 
must  be  mixed  with  twenty  times  its  own  quantity  of 
water,  and  the  silk  is  to  be  prepared  in  a  solution  of 
alum,  in  the  usual  way  ;  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  rinse 
it,  and  it  may  be  colored  immediately.  The  solution  of 
tin  may  be  preserved  for  other  purposes. 


A    TURKISH    BLUE. 

Take  2  1-2  ounces  of  cochineal, 
10  do        of  aquafortis, 

1  1-2    do        of  English  tin  and 

1-4    do        of  alum. 

The  silk  must  first  be  colored  in  a  keep,  to  a  medium 
blue.  This  being  done,  take  a  kettle  containing  ten 
buckets  of  water,  put  into  it  two  and  a  half  ounces  of 
cochineal,  and  boil  it  well  for  the  space  of  ten 
miuutes. 

During  the  above  process,  dissolve  the  tin  in  the  aqua- 
fortis, according  to  art,.  This  being  done,  pour  the 
solution,  together  with 'a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  alum, 
into  the  above  mentioned  kettle,  with  ten  buckets  of 
water.  Stir  the  liquor  well,  and  immerse  the  silk  in 
the  liquor,  work  it  well  therein,  for  about  three  quar- 
ters of  an  hour  ;  during  which  time,  it  must  be  kept  at  a 
steady,  slow,  continued  boil ;  then  take  it  out,  rinse  it, 
fix  it  on  the  wringing  post,  wring  and  beat  it  well  ; 
•which  will  restore  it  to  its  natural  gloss  again. 

A    REAL    PINK. 

Take  15  Ibs.  of  safflower, 

15  quarts  of  strong  vinegar, 
3-8  of  an  ounce  of  oil  of  vitriol, 
1  Ib.  14  oz.  potash,  and 
4  ounces  of  cream  of  tartar. 

Put  the  15  Ibs.  of  safflower  in  a  bag,  tie  it  tight,  im- 
merse it  forty-eight  hours  in  running  water ;  take  it 
out,  during  this  time,  every  six  hours  ;  tread  it  well 
with  your  feet,  to  free  it  of  all  yellow  matter  ;  con- 
tinue this  until  all  the  yellow  matter  has  been  worked 
out  of  it.  Examine  it  at  the  expiration  of  the  above 
time,  to  see  whether  it  has  lost  all  its  coloring  matter  ; 
if  it  has  not,  immerse  it  a  few  hours  more  into  the  wa- 
ter, which  will  clear  it  from  all  yellow  matter.  This 
being  done,  take  it  out,  put  it  into  a  pail,  and  pour  six 
buckets  of  river  water  upon  it. 

This  being  done,  put  one  pound  fourteen  ounces  of 
potash  in  a  crock,  dissolve  it  in  water,  and  pour  the 
clear  part  of  this  potash  liquor  on  the  safflower  in  the 
tub  ;  mix  it  well,  and  set  it  by,  in  a  cool  place,  for  six 
hours.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  take  out  the 
.«afflower  with  its  liquor,  run  it  through  a  sieve  into  a 
•pail,  pour  half  a  bucket  of  water  upon  it,  and  press  it 
out,  in  order  to  extract  all  the  coloring  matter  there- 
from ;  pour  fifteen  quarts  of  vinegar,  and  three-eighths 
of  an  ounce  of  oil  of  vitriol  into  the  liquor. 

This  being  done,  take  the  ten  pounds  of  silk,  fix  it 
upon  the  rods,  put  it  into  the  safflower  liquor,  and  work 
it  well  therein,  for  the  space  of  four  hours  ;  then  take 
it  out,  rinse  it  in  running  water,  wring  it  well,  and  lay 
it  aside  for  further  use,  in  its  wet  state. 

Lastly.  Dissolve  four  ounces  of  cream  of  tartar  in 
river  water,  and  pour  the  clear  part  of  this  solution  into 
a  tub,  with  eight  buckets  of  river  water  ;  immerse  the 
silk,  which  has  before  been  colored  to  a  light  red,  in 
this  solution,  and  work  it  well  therein  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  ;  take  it  out,  wring  it  and  dry  it,  and  you  will 
have  a  handsome  pink. 

A    HIGH    COLORED    CRIMSON. 

Take  1  1-4  Ibs.  of  cochineal, 

1  Ib.  of  galls, 

4  ounces  of  cream  of  tartar,  and 

2  1-2  Ibs.  of  Roman  alum. 

Dissolve  two  and  a  half  pounds  of  Roman  alum  in  a 
kettle,  with  ten  buckets  of  water  ;  pour  the  clean  part 
of  this  solution  into  a  vat,  immerse  the  silk  in  it,  and 
work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  four  hours  ;  and 
rinse  it  in  running  water,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  by  for 
further  use,  in  its  wet  state  ;  then  put  in  a  kettle  con- 
taining eight  buckets  of  boiling1  water,  the  following  ar- 
ticles : 

One  and  a  quarter  pounds  of  finely  powdered  cochi- 
neal, one  pound  of  finely  powdered  gall-nuts,  and  four 


ounces  of  cream  of  tartar.  Let  the  whole  boil  slowly, 
for  the  space  of  fifteen  minutes  ;  cool  it  with  two 
buckets  of  water,  work  it  well  in  the  liquor,  which 
must  be  kept  in  continual  boil  for  the  space  of  one 
hour  and  a  half ;  then  take  it  out,  rinse  it,  wring  it,  and 
let  it  dry,  when  the  dying  will  be  completed. 

For  a  cheaper  color  than  the  foregoing,  reduce  the 
quantity  of  cochineal,  from  one  and  a  quarter  pounds, 
to  ten  ounces,  and  substitute'  for  the  remainder,  three 
pounds  persio  ;*  and  proceed  with  these  materials  in  the 
same  manner  as  above  directed.  This  color  will  differ 
from  that  of  the  first  described  process,  in  no  other  re- 
spect than  that  it  receives  somewhat  more  of  a  bluish 
cast. 

A    HANDSOME    CRIMSON. 

Take  3  Ibs.  of  Roman  alum, 
1-2  ounce  of  argol,f 
1-2 of  East  India  galls, 
25  ounces  of  cochineal. 

Heat  eight  buckets  of  rain  water  in  a  kettle  lake- 
warm  ;  put  into  it  three  pounds  of  Roman  alum,  dis- 
solve it  therein,  take  out  the  solution  and  work  it  well 
therein  for  the  space  of  eight  hours. 

Take  it  out  at  the  expiration  of  this  time,  wring  it 
lightly,  and  lay  it  by  for  further  use,  in  its  wet  state. 
To  complete  this  color,  heat  eight  buckets  of  well  or 
spring  water  until  it  begins  to  boil  ;  put  into  it  the  follow- 
ing articles  :  half  an  ounce  of  argol,  and  half  a  pound  of 
finely  powdered  East  India  galls  ;  let  the  whole  of 
these  articles  boil  well  for  about  ten  minutes,  and  run 
the  liquor  through  a  sieve,  into  a  pail ;  then  pour  the  li- 
quor back  into  the  kettle,  and  put  into  it  twenty-fire 
ounces  of  pulverized  cochineal  ;  let  it  boil  ten  minutes 
more,  cool  the  liquor  with  half  a  bucket  of  water  ;  im- 
merse the  silk  in  this  liquor,  and  work  it  well  therein 
for  the  space  of  two  hours  ;  during  which  time,  the  li- 
quor must  be  kept  at  a  continual  boil.  This  being 
done,  take  it  out,  rinse  it  well,  wring  it  strongly,  and 
dry  it. 

Then  take  a  kettle,  with  ten  buckets  of  spring  or 
well  water,  and  heat  it  so  that  you  may  bear  your 
hand  in  it  ;  work  the  silk  well  in  this  water  for  half  an 
hour,  then  take  it  out,  wring  it,  and  dry  it.  By  this 
process,  we  obtain  a  very  handsome  crimson. 

A  DEEP     RED. 

Take  1  Ib.  of  fine  galls, 

2  1-2  Ibs.  of  alum, 

1-2  Ib.  of  composition;  and 
5  Ibs.  of  madder. 

Put  into  a  kettle  eight  buckets  of  water,  and  one 
pound  of  fine  galls  ;  let  it  boil  about  fifteen  minutes, 
or  until  the  strength  is  extracted  ;  take  it  out,  run  it 
through  a  sieve  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk  in  this  decoc- 
tion, and  work  it  well  therein  for  about  two  hours  :  af- 
ter which  take  it  out,  rinse,  and  dry  it.  Then  put  into 
a  kettle  eight  buckets  of  water,  with  two  and  a  half 
pounds  of  alum,  and  a  half  pound  of  the  composition  ; 
let  these  be  properly  united  with  the  water  ;  pour 
the  liquor  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk  in  the  solution, 
and  work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  four  hours  ; 
take  it  out,  rinse  it,  and  lay  it  by  in  its  wet  state  for 
further  use. 

Lastly.  To  complete  these  colors,  put  in  a  kettle 
ten  buckets  of  water  ;  add  five  pounds  of  madder,  and 
work  the  silk  well  in  this  liquor,  until  it  begins  to  boil ; 
then  take  it  out,  rinse  and  dry  it. 

A    REAL    BROWN. 

Take  G  ounces  of  annatto, 
1  Ib.  of  potash, 

3  Ibs.  of  alum, 

5  oz.  of  fine  galls, 

*  The  cudbear  of  the  English  dyer, 
t  Tartar  from  red  wine. 


65 


1-4  oz.  of  cream  of  tartar, 
2  oz.  of  turmeric,  and 
10  oz.  of  cochineal. 

Boil  a  kettle  with  ten  buckets  of  water,  powder  six 
ounces  of  annatto,  and  put  it  together  with  a  pound  of 
potash  into  the  kettle,  boil  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  pour 
the  liquor  through  a  sieve  into  a  tub,  immerse  the  silk, 
and  work  it  well  in  the  liquor  for  the  space  of  two  hours  ; 
then  take  it  out,  rinse,  wring  and  dry  it.  After  this,  pour 
eight  buckets  of  fresh  water  into  a  kettle,  add  three 
pounds  of  alum,  and  dissolve  it  therein  ;  then  put  the 
solution  in  a  vat,  steep  the  dried  yellow  silk,  and  work 
it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  three  hours,  then  take 
it  out,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  by  wet,  for  further  use. 

This  being  done,  prepare  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets 
of  water,  and  bring  it  to  boil  ;  put  into  it  ten  ounces  of 
cochineal,  and  let  it  boil  for  ten  minutes  ;  then  cool 
the  liquor  with  a  bucket  of  water,  and  put  into  it  a 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  cream  of  tartar,  and  two  ounces 
of  turmeric,  and  stir  the  whole  well  ;  then  steep  the 
silk,  previously  alumed  in  the  liquor,  work  it  well  there- 
in for  the  space  of  two  hours,  during  which  it  must  be 
kept  at  a  continual  boil.  This  being  done,  lake  it  out, 
rinse  in  running  water,  wring,  and  lay  it  by,  in  its  wet 
state,  for  further  use. 

This  being  done,  dye  it  in  a  keep,  [dye  tub,]  light  or 
dark  as  your  taste  may  be,  or  according  to  the  pattern 
which  is  laid  before  you. 

If  you  do  not  wish  to  make  use  of  the  keep,  or,  as  is 
often  the  case  in  small  dying  establishments,  should 
you  not  possess  one,  you  may  apply  the  indigo  color- 
ing. 

You  may  likev;ise  color  it  in  the  liquor  of  logwood, 
which  will  render  it  equally  handsome,  but  not  of  so 
lasting  a  color. 

A  MEAL  CRIMSON,  in  another  way. 

Take  2  1-2  Ibs.  of  Roman  alum, 

2  Ibs.  of  fine  galls, 

1  Ib.  4  oz.  of  cochineal, 

1-4  Ib.  of  argol,  and 

8  oz.  of  spirits  ammonia. 

Take  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of  water,  put  into 
it  two  pounds  of  fine  galls,  and  let  it  boil  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  ;  run  the  liquor  through  a  seive  into  a  pail  ; 
steep  the  silk  in  the  liquor,  and  work  it  well  therein 
for  the  space  of  four  hours,  then  take  it  out,  rinse, 
wring  and  dry  it. 

After  this,  take  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of  water, 
and  dissolve  in  it  two  pounds  of  Roman  alum  ;  pour  ii 
into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk  in  the  solution  of  alum,  and 
work  it  well  for  the  space  of  four  hours  in  the  same 
then  take  it  out,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  by,  in  a  wet  state 
for  further  use. 

After  this,  to  complete  the  color,  take  six  buckets  o 
water,  pour  it  into  a  kettle,  add  one  pound  and  four 
ounces  of  fine  cochineal,  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  argol 
and  eight  ounces  of  spirits  of   ammonia  ;  let   all  boi 
well   together  for  about  ten  minutes,  then  cool  the  II 
quor  with  two  buckets  of  water,  work  the  silk  well  in 
it  for  two  hours  ;  during  which  time  it  must  be  kep 
boiling  continually  ;  then  take  it  out,  suspend  it  on  thi 
rods  over  a  vat,  pour  the  liquor  from  the  kettle   inli 
it,  and  continue  to  work  the  silk  in  the  liquor  until  i 
has  become  cool,  then  take  it  out,  rinse  it  and  dry  it  in 
the  shade.     By  following  the  above  directions,  you  wil 
obtain  a  very  handsome  crimson. 

To  turn  this  expensive  cochineal  liquor  to  all  possible 
advantage,  (for  it  will  still  have  retained  some  goo " 
coloring  matter,)  pour  the  above  used  alum  liquor  int 
it,  and  heat  it  again  ;  which  will  enable  you  to  colo 
many  lighter  shades,  from   the    rich  peach  blossom 
down  to  the  lightest  lilac  color.    Having  used  it  fo 
this  purpose,  you  may  take  more  or  less  of  silk  of  a  yel 


ow  ground,  and  color  it  m  it,  which  will  receive  a  red- 
lish  yellow  from  it. 

A    HANDSOME    RED. 

Take  8-  oz.  of  annatto,. 

1  1-2  Ibs.  of  potash, 

2  1-2  Ibs.  of  alum, 

6  Ibs.  of  Brazil  wood, 
5  buckets  of  sharp  vinegar,  and 
G  oz.  of  composition,  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing materials  :  1  Ib.  of  spirits  of  ni- 
tre,   2   oz.  of  sal  ammonia,  6   oz.   of 
grain  tin.    The  tin  and  ammonia,  are 
to  be  put  into  a  sand  stone  pot  of  suffi- 
cient capacity  ;  upon  these  pour  about 
12  oz.  of  water,  then  add  the  spirits  of 
nitre  and  let  the  solution  take  place. 
Take  for  this  purpose  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of 
water,  and  let  it  boil. 

While  this  is  doing,  powder  eight  ounces  of  annatto 
as  fine  as  possible  ;  then  put  it  together  with  one  pound 
md  a  half  of  potash,  into  the  above  heated  water  ;  let 
he  whole  boil  well  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour}  and  pour 
he  liquor  through  a  seive  into  a  pail.  SJefip  the  silk  in 
his  potash  and  annatto  liquor,  and  work  it  well  for  two 
lours  in  the  same  ;  after  which  take  it  out,  rinse  it, 
wring  and  dry  it. 

Then  dissolve  one  pound  and  a  half  of  alum  in  a  ket- 
tle with  eight  buckets  of  water  ;  pour  this  solution  into 
a  pail,  fix  your  silk  upon  rods,  and  work  it  well  there- 
n  for  two  hours;  then  take  it  out,  wring,  and  dry  it. 

When  the  silk  is  completely  dry,  steep  the  eilk  in 
warm  water,  until  it  has  become  properly  soaked  -t  then 
take  it  out,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  by  for  further  use. 

This  being  done,  pour  into  a  vat  five  buckets  of  sharp 
vinegar,  and  six  pounds  of  Brazil  wood,  and  let  it  stand 
for  the  space  of  forty-eight  hours  5  then  take  the  liquor 
out  of  the  vat  and  pour  it  into  a  kettle  ;  let  it  boil  for 
the  space  of  ten  minutes ;.  then  take  it  out,  pour  it 
through  a  seive  into  a  vat,i;and  through  the  parts  re- 
maining in  the  seive,  in  the  kettle  again  ;  pour  three 
buckets  of  water  upon  it,  let  it  boil  well  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  and  pour  the  liquor  thereof  to  the  other  Brazil 
wood  liquor  in  the  vat. 

This  being  done,  pour  six  ounces  of  the  composition 
into  this  liquor  of  Brazil  wood,  and  stir  it  well ;  steep 
the  silk  previously  soaked  in  warm  water,  in  the  liquor, 
and  work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  two  hours. 
Examine  at  the  expiration  of  this  time,  whether  the  li- 
quor still  contains  any  coloring  matter;  if  so,  take  it 
out,  pour  it  into  the  kettle  again,  work  the  silk  another 
time  therein,  during  which  it  must  be  kept  moderately 
warm  ;  then  take  it  out,  rinse  it  in  running  water,  wring 
it,  and  hang  it  up  to  dry.  By  observing  the  whole  of 
the  above  process,  you  will  obtain  a  very  handsome 
red.  By  using  eight  buckets  of  vinegar  instead  of  five, 
the  color  will  be  considerably  improved,  and  by  dispen- 
sing with  the  composition  altogether,  the  color  will  be- 
come darker. 

Lastly.  If  you  desire  to  have  this  color  of  a  darker 
fiery  hue,  add  two  pounds  of  Brazil  wood,  and  one 
pound  composition  to  the  above  quantity,  and  proceed 
in  the  same  way  as  above  directed. 

To    Color   Silk  with    Quercitron,    in  another 

manner. 

A  CITRON  YELLOW: 
Take  2  1-2  Ibs.  of  alum, 

4  Ibs.  of  sugar  of  lead, 

2  oz.  of  chalk,  and 

3  Ibs.  of  Quercitron. 

Take  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of  water,  put  into  it 
two  and  a  half  pounds  of  alum,  and  dissolve  them  there- 
in, then  take  out  the  alum  liquor,  and  pour  it  into  a  pail, 


'66 


and  let  It  become  cold,  add  to  It  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of 
sugar  of  lead,  and  stir  it  well  until  united  with  the  so- 
lution of  alum,  then  put  into  it  two  ounces  of  chalk, 
stir  it  well,  and  continue  the  stirring  at  proper  intervals, 
for  the  space  of  twelve  hours,  and  sit  it  by  to  settle. 
Pour  off  the  liquor  into  a  pail,  but  be  careful  not  to  dis- 
turb the  sediment  at  the  bottom ;  steep  the  silk  in  the 
liquor,  and  work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  six 
hours ;  then  take  it  out,  wring  and  lay  it  by  wet,  for  fur- 
ther use. 

After  this,  take  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of  water, 
put  into  it  three  pounds  of  Quercitron  bark,  and  let  ii 
boil  for  the  space  of  three  quarters  of  an  hour;  pour  ii 
through  a  sieve  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk  which  has  been 
saturated  in  the  foregoing  liquor,  composed  of  alum 
sugar  of  lead,  and  chalk,  in  the  Quercitron  liquor,  anc 
work  it  well  for  the  space  of  an  hour ;  then  take  it  out 
rinse  it,  wring  and  dry  it. 

If  you  desire  a  higher  colored  citron  yellow  than  the 
above,  add  another  pound  of  Quercitron  to  the  above 
quantity,  and  proceed  in  the  following  manner  : 

Saturate  the  silk,  as  above  directed,  in  a  liquor  01 
alum,  sugar  of  lead,  and  chalk,  then  take  a  kettle  with 
eight  buckets  of  water,  boil  two  pounds  of  Quercitron 
therein,  for  the  space  of  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and 
pour  the  liquor  through  a  sieve  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk 
and  work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  two  hours  ; 
after  which,  take  it  out,  wring  and  dry  it.  This  will 
have  given  the  silk  the  best  of  grounds  for  a  good  yel- 
low color.  After  this,  take  another  kettle  with  eight 
buckets  of  water,  put  into  it  two  more  pounds  of  Quer- 
citron bark,  and  boil  it  for  the  space  of  three  quarters 
of  an  hour ;  then  pour  it  through  a  sieve  into  a  vat,  and 
work  the  previously  coloured  and  dried  silk  in  the  same, 
for  the  space  of  two  hours ;  then  take  it  out,  rinse  it, 
wring  and  dry  it. 

A    HIGH    COLORED    AND    DEEP    CITRON    YELLOW. 

Take  1  1-2  Ibs.  alum, 

3  oz.  of  sugar  of  lead, 

1  oz.  of  chalk,  and 

8  Ibs.  of  French  berries, 

bissolve  in  a  kettle  which  contains  eight  buckets  of 
water,  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  alum,  pour  the  solution 
into  a  pail,  or  which  is  better,  into  a  cask,  and  let  it 
cool.  This  being  done,  put  into  it  three  ounces  sugar 
of  lead,  stir  it  well  with  a  rake,  add  one  and  a  half 
ounces  of  freely  powdered  chalk,  and  stir  the  whole 
well  again  and  continue  the  stirring,  every  hour,  for 
twelve  hours.  But^  after  the  last  stirring,  the  rake  must 
be  taken  out  of  it,  to  prevent  the  sediment  from  being 
disturbed,  and  then  let  it  stand  twelve  hours.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time,  draw  off  the  liquor ;  but  be  care- 
ful not  to  disturb  the  sediment,  which  would  otherwise 
create  stains  that  are  difficult  to  remove ;  pour  the  li- 
quor, thus  drawn  off,  into  a  vat,  work  the  silk  well  in  it 
for  the  space  of  four  hours,  after  which,  take  it  out, 
wring  and  dry  it.  This  being  done,  moisten  it  with 
warm  water,  rinse  it  in  running  water,  wring  it  and  lay 
it  by  wet,  for  further  use ;  then  take  a  kettle  with  eight 
buckets  of  water,  and  at  the  same  time,  bruise  eight 
pounds  of  French  berries  in  a  mortar ;  put  them  into 
the  kettle,  and  let  them  boil  for  half  an  hour :  then  take 
out  the  liquor,  and  run  it  through  a  sieve  into  a  vat. 
This  being  done,  steep  the  silk  in  the  liquor,  and  work  it 
well  therein  for  half  an  hour;  take  it  out,  wring  and 
dry  it ;  which  produces  a  handsome  citron  yellow. 

With  the  above  used  alum  solution  and  French  berry- 
liquor,  you  may  without  any  other  addition,  colour  a 
brighter  citron  yellow.  The  same  solution  may  likewise 
be  applied  with  turmeric  or  weld,  in  dying. 


A    KAHKEEJ. 

Take  2  Ibs.  of  fine  galls, 

1  1-2  oz.  of  annatto, 
4  oz.  of  potash,  and 
1-2  Ib.  of  soap. 

Put  one  pound  of  finely  powdered  galls  in  a  kettle  of 
eight  buckets  of  water,  and  boil  it  about  ten  minutes, 
then  take  out  the  liquor,  and  run  it  through  a  sieve  into 
a  pail.  While  thus  employed,  let  half  a  pound  of  soap  be 
dissolved  in  a  bucket  of  warm  water,  and  pour  the  so- 
lution into  the  liquor  of  the  galls.  Then  put  into  a 
crock  with  water,  one  ounce  of  annatto,  and  four  ounces 
of  potash  ;  boil  it  for  half  an  hour,  add  the  one  half  of 
it  to  the  liquor  of  the  galls  in  the  pail,  and  stir  the  whole 
well.  This  being  done,  steep  the  silk  in  the  liquor,  and 
work  it  well  therein  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  Exam- 
ine the  silk,  and  should  it  not  have  the  necessary  redness, 
add  as  much  of  the  annatto  liquor  to  it  as  you  may  deem 
necessary  to  give  the  colour  the  desired  tint.  Then  put 
the  silk  in  again,  and  work  it  well  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour ;  take  it  out,  rinse  and  dry  it. 

The  Nankeen  coloured  silk  must  not  remain  long  with- 
out being  rinsed,  as  this  would  create  stains  in  it. 

A    HANDSOME    TURKISH     BLUE. 

Take  1  1-4  Ib.  alum, 

2  1-2  oz.  of  cochineal, 
3-4  of  an  ounce  of  indigo, 

3  oz.  of  oil  of  vitriol,  and 
1-2  Ib.  of  composition. 

The  silk,  after  being  boiled  in  soap  and  water,  must 
be  rinsed  in  running  water,  and  then  wrung  and  well 
beaten.  This  being  done,  it  must  be  colored  to  a  hand- 
some light  blue,  in  a  cold  or  warm  keep;  then  rinse  it 
in  running  water,  wring  and  dry  it. 

As  soon  as  the  silk  has  become  properly  dry,  it  must 
be  moistened  in  warm  water,  wrung  and  laid  by  wet, 
for  further  use. 

After  this  is  done,  prepare  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets 
of  water,  dissolve  in  it  one  and  a  quarter  pounds  of 
alum,  pour  the  solution  into  a  vat,  steep  the  silk  in  it  an«l 
work  it  well  therein  for  the  space  of  an  hour,  then  take 
it  out,  wring  it,  and  lay  it  aside,  in  its  wet  state,  for  fur- 
ther use. 

Lastly  :  take  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of  water,  boil 
it  and  put  into  it  two  and  a  half  ounces  of  cochineal  : 
let  it  boil  for  about  ten  minutes ;  cool  the  liquor,  with  a 
bucket  of  water,  and  add  half  a  pound  of  the  solution 
of  tin,  and  three  quarters  of  an  ounce  of  indigo,  which 
has  been  previously  dissolved  in  three  ounces  of  oil  of 
vitriol,  and  stir  the  whole  well.  This  being  done,  im- 
merse the  silk  coloured  blue  in  the  cochineal  liquor, 
work  it  well  therein,  until  the  liquor  begins  to  boil, 
let  it  boil  another  hour,  during  which  time  the  silk  must, 
however,  be  continually  worked,  it  must  then  be  taken 
out,  rinsed,  wrung,  and  dried. 

If  you  desire  this  Turkish  blue  to  incline  more  to  a 
red,  take  more  of  the  cochineal :  if  the  contrary,  take 
less. 

A    HANDSOME     GREEN. 

Take  2  Ibs.  of  alum,  and 

4  Ibs.  of  Quercitron  bark. 

Take  for  this  purpose,  a  kettle  with  eight  buckets  of 
water,  and  dissolve  in  it  two  pounds  of  alum  ;  then  pour 
it  into  a  tub,  and  set  it  by  until  it  is  wanted. 

While  you  are  engaged  in  preparing  the  above  solu- 
tion, the  silk  must  be  colored  in  a  cold  keep  to  a  hand- 
some light  blue,  and  after  being  rinsed  in  a  stream, 
wring  and  steep  it  in  the  "Above-mentioned  alum  liquor; 
work  it  well  therein*for  two  hours,  then  take  it  out, 
wring  it  and  lay  it  by  wet  for  further  use. 

Lastly,  put  four  pounds  of  Quercitron  bark  into  a  ket- 


INDEX. 


ASPINWALL,  NATHAN,  and  MS  services,  is,  ie. 

ATTENDANTS,  necessary  fora  million  of  worms,  41  ;  do  for  an 

•kcre.  35. 
AUTHORITIES  consulted,  3. 

B 

IK5UNTIES,  13,  16,  17,  18. 
BRANDF.GEE,  Mrs.  18. 
IWCHANAN,  WILLIAM  B,  3,  16. 
UU  DOING,  28. 

C 

CABINS,  or  hedges  for  the  worms  to  spin  on,  46, 50. 
CALCULATIONS  of  profit,  &c.  18,  19,  31,  32,  33,  34,35,  36,  37. 
CHRYSALIS?,  how  to  kill,  52. 
•CLEANLINESS,  essential,  45. 
CLKANING  and  ungtimming,  61. 
CLIMATE  and  soil,  1C,  24,  25,  31. 
COCOONERIES,  18,  19,  38,  39,  40,  41. 
COCOON'S— quantity  in  a  pound  of  silk,  37  • 
number  in        do.        do.        37  ; 
do.        in        do.    cocoons,  37; 
yield  of,  34  ; 

how  to  form  hedges  or  cabins  for,  46,  50 
quantities  of,  51 ; 
how  to  judge,  51  ; 
how  to  gather,  51 ; 
selection  of,  for  eggs,  52  ; 
proportion  of  to  eggs,  52  ; 
how  to  kill  the  chrysalis  in  the,  46,  52. 
COMPANIES  formed,  17,  18,  19  ; 
CONNECTICUT  and  the  culture,  10; 

great  value  of  the  manufactures  in,  17  ; 
factories  in,  17  ; 
societies  in,  17  ; 

legislative  encouragement  of  the  silk  culture,  17. 
CULTIVATION  of  the  mulberry,  20,  28,  30. 

CUTTINGS— how  to  multiply  by,  29  ;    new  method  of  propagating 
by,  70 

D 

DANDOLO'S  laboratory,  38. 

DELAWARE,  16. 

DICKINSON,  Grace,  15. 

DUSTANCES-table  of,  37. 

DISEASES  and  cures  of  the  worms,  53,  54. 

DISBANDING  of  the  silk  from  the  reel,  61. 

DYING  SILK-the  whole  process  of,  62,  to  68. 

E 

EGGS— number  in  certain  quantities  of  cocoons,  37: 

number  laid  by  a  female  moth,  37  ; 

mode  of  hatching,  42  ; 
-  cocoons  for,  52  ; 

preservation  of,  52 ; 

proportion  of  cocoons  to,  52. 
F.NEMJES  of  silk  worms,  45  ,  53 
ENGLAND — her  endeavors  to  introduce  the  culture  into  America, 

12, 16. 
EVANS,  Dr.  Cadwallader,  15. 


FACTORIES,  17. 

FEIJDING— care  to  be  observed  in,  49. 
FISHER,  Grace,  15. 
FLAX,  Sirs.  16. 
FRANKLIN,  Dr.  15. 
FOLIAGE— time  of  gathering,  31; 
yield  of,  31,  32,  33,  34; 
supply  of,  38  ; 

quantity  required,  32,  34,  37,  47. 
FOOD  for  worms — early  supply  of,  22, 29  ; 

to  be  kept  dry,  38  ; 

when  leaves  may  be  gathered  for,  31,38 

quantity  of,  on  an  acre,  34; 

apportionment  of,  47. 
FUMIGATION,  53. 

G 

GEE,  Joshua,  extracts  from,  13, 14. 


GENERAL  RULES  and  observations,  47,  49. 
GEORGIA  and  the  culture  15  10 
GRAFTING,  23. 

H 

HATCHING  the  eggs,  42  ;  time  for,  42. 

HEDGES,  how  planted,  &c.  27,  28;  distance  of,  27,28;  divis- 
ion, 29. 

HEDGES  or  cabins  for  the  worms  to  spin  on,  46,  50. 

HISTORY  of  Silk—  sketch  of  the,  9;  introduction  of  the  culture 
into  China,  10 ;  do.  into  Greece,  10  ;  do.  into  Rome,  10  ,  do!  a- 
mong  the  Persians,  11 ;  do.  into  Europe,  11  ;  do.  into  England, 
11  ;  interesting  incidents  connected  with  the  Lombes,  12;  in- 
troduction of  the  culture  into  America,  12  ;  do.  into  South  Ca- 
rolina. 13. 

HORRY,  Mrs  ,  15. 

HURDLES,  or  frames,  39,  40, 41, 


I 


ILLINOIS  and  the  culture,  19. 
INDIANA  and  the  culture  19. 
INTRODUCTORY  remarks,  9. 


JAMES  I.  and  the  silk  culture,  12,  13. 

K 

KENTUCKY  and  the  culture. 


LABORATORIES,  18, 19, 38.  39,  40,  41. 
LABORERS,  expense  and  number  of, 35,  41 
LEA  VES— when  they  may  be  fed,  31,  38  ; 

early  supply  of,  29; 

calculations  concerning  the  supply  of,  32,  34,  38; 

quantity  consumed  by  given  numbers  of  worms,  33. 
34  37; 

mode  of  gathering,  37  ; 

yield  of,  31,  32,  33,  34; 

mode  of  picking,  preparing,  &c.  49. 
LAYERING,  29. 
LIVE  FENCES,  29. 
LOMBES,  the  Messrs.,  12. 

M 

MACAULEY,  Catharine.  15. 
MACHINERY,  15,60. 
MAINE  and  the  culture,  19. 
MANUFACTURES,  &c.  15,  16,  17. 
MARYLAND  and  the  culture,  14,  16. 
MAUKETS  for  selling  raw  silk,  61. 
MASSACHUSETTS  and  the  silk  culture,  18  - 
legislative  bounty,  18  ; 
great  product  of  4  acres  in,  18. 
MODES  of  MULTIPLYING,  28,  29,  30,  68,  69. 
MULBERRY  CULTURE,  varieties  of,  &c.— moral  and  political 
effect  of,  20,  68  ; 

adaptation  of  certain  states  for,  14,  69  : 
proBts  of,  18, 19.  31,  33,  34,  35,  36,37; 
me  hoil  of  sowing  seed)  26 ; 
theMoRUS  NIORA,  21  ; 
the  MORUS  ALBA,  its  culture,  fitness  to  the  climate. 

&e.  21,25,  26,  69  ;  varieties  of,  26  ; 
tlie  MORUS  MULTICACLIS,  its  value,  adaptation,  har- 
diness, £c.  21,  22,  23, 27,  28, 41,  69  ;  G  B. Smith's 
opinion  of,  69 :    his  mode  of  managing  cut- 
tings, 70 : 

distance  of  planting,  28. 
MULBERRY  ORCHARDS-roots  to  be  cultivated  In,  31. 

R 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  and  the  culture,  19. 

NEW  JEHSEY  and  the  culture,  15. 

NEW  YORK  and  the  culture,  19. 

N  ORRIS,  Mrs.  Keziah,  16. 

NORTH  CAROLINA  and  the  culture,  16,  21. 


O 


OHIO  and  the  culture,  19. 
OKCHAHDS  planted,  18. 


PENNSYLVANIA  and  tha  culture,  14,  15,  16. 

FHILADELPHIA  and  the  culture,  15. 

PLATE  representing  the  worms  in  their  different  ages,  6  :  explana- 
tion, 7. 

PLANTS,  number  at  certain  distances  on  an  acre,  32,  34,  37. 

PREFACE,  nnd  authorities  consulted,  3. 

PREMIUMS  granted  in  America,  13,16,  17,  18. 

PRODUCT  and  profit  of  the  Mulberry  culture,  18,  19.  31,  33,  34 
35,  36,  37. 

PRUNING,  time  of,  28:  method  of,  30. 

PURE  AIR  necessary,  45. 

R 

RAPP,  Mr.  and  the  silk  culture,  16. 

REARING  and  treatment  of  the  worms,  42,  43,  44,45,46,47,48,49, 

REELS,  reeling,  <S-c.  Gay's,  15,  60. 

REELING— simplification  of,  15 :  process  of,  55,  56,  57  ;  machinery 

frr,  60. 

RIPKA,  Joseph.  10. 
RHODE  ISLAND  and  the  culture,  19. 
ROOM  essential  to  the  worms,  49. 


SEEDLINGS— opinions  of,  30. 

6EKD— mode  of  saving,  26  :  mode  of  testing,  2G :  directions  for 
Fowinu,  26  :  time  of  sowing,  26, 30  :  supplies  of,  30. 

SEWING  SILK— mode  of  making,  15,  50  :  do.  of  twist,  59. 

BILK,  mode  of  cleansing  and  ungumming.  61  :  boiling  62  .  sulphur- 
ing 62 :  aluming  62 :  mode  of  reeling,  <S-c.  55 :  mode  of  dying,  02 
to  68  :  preparation  of  waste,  59 :  do.  of  waste  white,  59  :  how 
to  organzine,  59  :  markets  for,  61  :  method  of  spinning  inferior 
qualities  of,  59. 

61LK  CULTURE,  its  profits,  magnitude,  &c.  17,18,19,31,33,34, 
35,  36,  37:  Judge  Spencer  on  the,  17,  69. 

81T,K  COMPANIES,  17,18,19:  do.  manufactures,  16,17:  great 
value  of,  in  Connecticut,  17  ;  quantity  raised  on  an  acre,  33, 34 
35 

SILK  WORMS— definition  of  the  name  of  the,  10:  early  history 
and  introduction  into  Europe  and  America,  10, 13:  adaptation 
of  certain  states  for  the  culture  of,  14  :  method  of  feeding  the, 
42,  43,  44,  45, 46, 47.  48  :  enemies  of,  53 :  diseases  of,  53,  54  :  va- 
fietiesof,  54. 


I  SMITH,  Gideon  B.  3,16,42,09  ;  his  plan  of  a  laboratory,  41 :  his  plan 
of  feeding  the  worms,  &c.  44:  his  view»of  the  Morus  Multicau- 
lis,  28,  69. 

SPENCER,  Judge— opinions  of  the  Bilk  culture,  17:  Interesting  ex- 
tract of  a  letter  from,  69. 

SOIL  and  situation,  24,  25,  31. 

SOLUTION  for  soaking  seed,  27. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA  and  the  culture,  14,  16. 

SPECIMENS  of  American  silk,  17. 

STATES  adapted  to  the  culture,  13, 14,  15, 16. 

STANDARD  TREES— management  of,  27,  31 :  distance  apart,  28r 
32,33 

SUCKERING— method  of,  29. 

SUPERIORITY  of  American  silk,  15. 


TABLES,  sbcwins  the  profits  of  the  culture,  33,  36  :  do.  of  distan- 
ces of  plants,  37  :  do.  of  measures,  37. 
TEMPERATURE,  42, 43. 
TOMPKINS,  J.  Y.,  16. 
TREES,  number  on  an  acre,  34,  37. 
TURKISH  mode  of  managing  the  worms,  47. 


VALUE  of  the  silk  culture  in  Connecticut,  17. 

VARIETIES  of  silk  worms,  54. 

VERMONT  and  the  culture,  19. 

VIRGINIA— introduction  of  the  culture  of  Bilk  into,  12 :  prop-ess 
therein,  13  :  premiums  by  the  assembly,  13  :  interesting  anec- 
dotes concerning,  13  .  Gee's  opinions  of,  14  :  adaptation  to  the 
culture,  16. 

w 

WASTE  silk,  59. 

WHITMARSH,  Mr.,  his  plan  of  a  cocoonery,  41. 

WORMS — number  which  can  be  ftd.on  an  acre,  34:  plate  repre- 
senting the  different  ages  of,  6 :  quantity  of  leat  cs  consumed  by 
certain  numbers,  32,  37 :  mode  of  hatching  and  rearing  the,  42  : 
do.  feeding,  42  to  49  :  rising  of  the,  46,  50  :  various  stages  and 
appearances  of,  50  :  enemies  of,  53 :  diseases  of  the  worms,  53, 
54  ;  mode  of  feeding  detailed,  47  :  mode  of  feeding  in  the  east- 
ern states,  43,  47  ;  do.  in  Turkey,  47. 

WRIGHT,  Susannah,  15. 


ERRATA.— In  the  7th  line  of  the  first  column  of  the  Historical  Sketch,  insert  "as"  instead  of  "w/ucft,"    so  as 
to  read  "as  were  accessible  to  him." 

In  the  37th  page,  last  line  of  the  second  column,  after  the  word  cocoons  read  "2,400,"  instead  of  "24,000." 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1835. 

BY  EDWARD  P.  ROBERTS, 
In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Maryland. 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


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